- Members in good standing of Sunshine Coast Credit Union that operate an active business account prior to November 1st, 2020 (eligible for $5000) or new business members joining the credit union before December 4, 2020 (eligible for $2500)
- Businesses that are: sole proprietorships, partnerships, joint ventures or corporations
- Businesses that are resident on the Sunshine Coast (Earl’s Cove to Langdale) but may serve any markets outside of the Sunshine Coast
- Businesses that have been in operation since March 1st, 2019
Attention: We are currently experiencing intermittent issues for debit card and ATM transactions. We are diligently working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
We are pleased to be able to assist our members in accessing the Government’s Canada Emergency Business Acount (CEBA).
Deadline to apply has extended to March 31. 2021. Learn more
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- Rebuild
Together we can do this.
We have put aside $200,000 to share with our business community in support of your reinvention!
Let’s start rebuilding today.
Sunshine Coast Credit Union Members are invited to apply for a grant (up to $5,000) through our new Business Grant offering. Providing entrepreneurs with some non-repayable re-boot funding is our way of supporting you in re-imagining what is possible for your business, whether it’s creating new ways to serve your customers, finding opportunities to expand your market or investing in your employees. We looked to fund initiatives that focus on new technologies, safety, employee training, research and new products and services. While our commercial services team is still right here to support your lending needs, our intention with this new program was to provide immediate financial support outside of our existing lending solutions.
We are one coast, one community, one local economy. Let’s grow together.
Not a business member of Sunshine Coast Credit Union yet? No problem!
Become a business member HERE between November 1, 2020 and December 4, 2020 and you may be eligible to apply!
**Applications for Round 3 are now CLOSED. **
Frequently Asked Questions -How to apply
Who can apply?
What can the funds be used for?
- Purchasing or enhancing safety equipment to keep employees and clients safe at the business
- Purchasing or enhancing technology (software or hardware) to improve client access to services and goods at the business
- Training or educating employees for new roles, safety procedures, service in virtual environments or to use new technology to serve clients
- Recruiting new talent to reside on the Sunshine Coast (other than wages and salary expenses)
- Designing new products, services or features
- Expanding to new markets Research to determine new markets or needs of consumers
How much is the grant?
- Up to a maximum in 2020 of $5000 for those businesses that have completed some form of training or learning and development in the past 12 months and have been business members in good standing of SCCU prior to November 1, 2020.
- Up to a maximum in 2020 of $2500 for businesses that have not completed some form of training or learning and development in the past 12 months and/or are new business members in good standing of SCCU between November 1, 2020 and December 4, 2020.
What is the total availability of grants?
Sunshine Coast Credit Union made available up to $100,000 in aggregate as grants for Round 1 and 2 and $50,000 to be distributed for Round 3 to successful applicants under this program.
When can I get the grant?
- Intake 1 – deadline for application July 8 – responses by July 15 *COMPLETED
- Intake 2 – deadline for application August 31 - responses by Sept 15 *COMPLETED
- Intake 3 - deadline for applications December 4 - responses by December 18 *COMPLETED
Successful grant applicants will be advised by email and funds will be credited to their account
How do I apply for the grant?
- An on-line application is available HERE
- Only completed on-line applications will be considered
**please review qualification parameters below**
How do I qualify for the grant?
The purpose of the grant is to help businesses evolve their business model to be successful in the post COVID world. For specific details, see the scoring matrix found in the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, we will be looking for the following qualities:
- Profitable business operations pre COVID
- Illustration of innovative service during COVID
- Connection to community – how does your business impact the community in addition to what you sell
- Businesses that have utilized other programs – government, non-profit to help their business thrive in the last 6 months
The guidelines set out herein are primary eligibility criteria only. Sunshine Coast Credit Union reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, which applications are selected to receive grant funding.
Do I need to repay the grant?
No. Funds received by successful applicants pursuant to this program and used for the purposes set out in an approved application are a grant and do not need to be repaid to Sunshine Coast Credit Union.
Which applications will not be considered?
- To support ongoing operating costs including wages and salaries
- In response to fundraising campaigns
- To cover deficits
- To retire debts
- To fund activities that serve primarily the membership or purposes of religious or political organizations
- To fund businesses that do not reside on the lower Sunshine Coast (Earl’s Cove to Langdale)
- For non-members
Read how our grant program is helping businesses in our community
***With More Recipients to Come!***
Round 1 Recipients:
Persephone Brewing Company
What will the grant be going towards?
"This grant will go towards setting up a long term multi-farm Community Supported Agriculture program for the Sunshine Coast. This program is in its inaugural year right now, with 30 total shares available, but we would like to see both the number of partner farms (4 currently) and shares grow in the upcoming years."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"Persephone is committed to providing a clean, open-air spot for people to relax and enjoy a beverage. We have three large picnic areas and an undercover patio so people can be appropriately spaced. We are open seven days a week, and our whole site is car-free during the Gibsons Farmers Market on Sundays from 10-3 pm."
You can follow @persephonebrewing on social and visit online at www.persephonebrewing.com/farm-programs/community-food-box
Kelly Schuster Speech & Language Therapy
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"This grant means the world to me. Anyone who works with me knows, my clients are like family to me. Not being able to see my clients in person, and not having the financial means to equip my office with adequate safety measures these past few months has been devastating. This grant will allow me to begin to see my wonderful clients in person once more, and will further enable me to provide ongoing and enhanced teletherapy services to my immunocompromised clients. I am so grateful to the SCCU for all the support they have given me!"
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"I am a Speech-Language Pathologist registered with provincial and federal bodies, offering intervention for individuals of all ages! Although my primary focus is children on the Autism Spectrum, I also offer therapy for early language skills, speech sound disorders, language impairments, social skills, stuttering, literacy and learning challenges, and much more. I plan to resume in-person sessions in the near future, but am also offering ongoing Teletherapy, available to clients across B.C."
You can follow @kellyschusterslt on social and visit her online at www.kellyschusterslt.com
Moorestock
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"This SCCU grant provides us with the necessary funding to work through the technological hurdles that have been limiting us from opening our e-commerce platform. This will be essential to our future success, especially if we're faced with another pandemic related shut down. We're so grateful our local credit union supports us in advancing our business endeavours, so we can continue to support our community."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"Our Summer hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 - 5:00 and Sundays / Holidays from 12:00 - 4:00. We are limiting the amount of customers in the store to ensure proper space for appropriate social distancing. We have increased cleaning of all high touch surfaces, and our change rooms are sanitized in between each customer use. We offer hand sanitizer and encourage hand cleaning upon entry of the store and at time of payment. We're also open to any means of more contactless shopping, IE ordering through social media, curbside pick up, home delivery or shipping via Canada Post. "
You can follow @moorestockoutfitters on Instagram and /moorestock.outfitters on facebook
Tapworks Brewing
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"This grant from the Credit Union is indicative of the support the community has for us. They've got our backs and so do you! It's this kind of support and attitude that will make our community stronger coming out of this.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"With the support of Sunshine Coast Credit Union, we have a new bar on our beautiful rooftop patio! It helps reduce the number of touchpoints between you and our beer which keeps you, our team and the community safe during the pandemic. We also have an expanded service area next to our building to maximize our outdoor and physically distanced seating."
You can follow @tapworksbrewing on social and visit them online at www.gibsonstapworks.com
Skylux Homes Limited
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"This grant means that we are able to expand our business in these new and unprecedented times and really have an opportunity to connect with the parts of our community that we haven’t necessarily been able to connect with before. This will allow us to hire others within the community and continue to give great service. We are so thankful for this grant and want to thank SCCU for such a generous opportunity."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"In an effort to be innovative and branch out into different sectors of construction we have created a custom roofing company that will specialize in: EuroShield Rubber Roofing, Metal & EPDM.Company name reveal to follow.We hope that by expanding our business with a focus on specialized custom roofing – we will be able to really connect with our community and build our brand. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and this is another endeavor that will allow our skills to shine."
You can follow Skylux Home Limited at @SkyLuxHomes on social and visit them online at www.skyluxhomeslimited.com
Christopher Norman Chocolates
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"With this grant we will purchase a new computer and invest further in our web development, including social media. We have been donating 5% of our sales to COVID-19 research from our online sales, generated by our Quarantini Collection. We will follow this with another COVID related confection in the autumn. We also plan on purchasing a new freezer.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"We would like our customers to know that we are providing custom hand-made chocolates that go directly from our company’s atelier to the customer’s table. Our company is a two-man operation, working out of a custom kitchen built into the bottom floor of our home.Due to the COVID situation, we have added to our sanitation practice, using an ozonator weekly. Having worked in NYC during the 9/11 crises gives us a good understanding of what is currently going on. Our facility is solar-assisted, and we incorporate zero waste practices as well as water collection"
You can follow Christopher Norman Chocolates at @christopherNormanChocolates on Facebook or visit www.CNChocolates.com
Nevermore Toys & Games
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"The SCCU grant means that we can continue to survive through the hardest time of our lives. This grant will allow for a little peace of mind knowing that we will get through tough times ahead and will allow us to make some needed upgrades to our business equipment in order to be successful and safe through this pandemic."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"Our storefront is open for in store shopping, curbside pickup, local delivery, and online shopping.We are open Tuesday-Friday from 10-5 and Saturday from 11-4."
You can follow Nevermore Toys & Games at @nevermoretoysgibsons for both Facebook and Instagram or visit www.nevermoretoys.ca
Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"We are so grateful to SCCU’s ongoing commitment to our local economy. Their Reinvention Program (including receiving the Rebuild Business Grant) has allowed us to make the necessary pivot to move forward in these challenging times"
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"For the past fifteen years, our small family operated school has accepted students from 41 countries worldwide. We have recently completed renovations at the school, so that way may resume safe operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. While we will continue to offer our impractical Cabinetmaker program at the school, in the coming months we will be launching our distance learning program."
You can follow Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking at @insidepassageschool on Instagram or visit www.insidepassage.ca
Shikoku Bonsai Coastal Landscaping
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"We are grateful to SCCU for the grant they have presented to us. We will be focusing on expanding our local retail presence and promoting people from the Vancouver Area to visit our newly opened Nursery. We will be rebuilding our website, particularly focusing on online sales across Canada. We look forward to welcoming the Coast to our Nursery during the 2020 Art Crawl, which we are happy and proud to be a part of for the first time this year."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"We have lived and worked on the Sunshine Coast for nearly 30 years now. We produce high quality bonsai, and construct fine gardens. We are currently open by appointment. We ask to avoid visiting with groups at the moment. We practice social distancing, masks currently not required as all areas are out of doors. We are available for our landscape consulting services as well as landscape construction on the Coast."
Visit Shikoku Bonsai Coastal Landscaping at www.shikoku.ca
Donna Hall Coaching
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"I am here to help Sunshine Coasters succeed in their careers! From guiding you to find clarity and alignment in your career, to resume writing and interview preparation, to leadership and business coaching you do not have to struggle alone. Based on the Coast, I understand our unique opportunities and am committed to supporting you in your success. "
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"This grant will enable me to accelerate my new Career Clarity Coaching program. This program helps folks make difficult career decisions with ease and is especially impactful as we recover from COVID-19. It means I can hire other Coasters with specialized skills and talents, allowing me to focus on serving my clients. Being able to hire other Coasters will move my business and their business forward! It’s truly a win-win situation, thank you SCCU! "Visit
You can follow Donna Hall Coaching @donnahallcoaching on Facebook, Instagram, and Linked in or visit www.donnahallcoaching.com
El Segundo
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"We are so thrilled about this grant - it will allow us to cover and/or heat our patio, extending our COVID capacity through the shoulder and winter season. This is a genuine game-changer for us in regards to our ability to operate profitably in a tough environment. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved!"
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"El Segundo is about Good Vibe Dining - with food that is all about flavour, great service & a great happy hour featuring food & drink every day from 3-5, and after 9pm. We are all about fun and safety - with strong protocols designed to keep customers and staff healthy."
You can follow El Segundo @eatelsegundo on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.eatelsegundo.com
Connect MT
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"Receiving this grant allows me to improve my clinic environment without taking away from the financial demands required in raising a family. It also provides me with confidence in both caring for patient needs and ensuring that when I reunite with my family each day, I have taken all the necessary precautions to provide a safe environment for us all."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"Renovation plans are in the works to provide in-clinic laundry, a hand-wash station and improvements to furnishings to accommodate sterilization procedures. I'm also upgrading technology to improve efficiency and quality of industry standards."
You can follow Connect MT @ConnectMT.AliciaAnderson.RMT on Facebook and Instagram
Round 2 Recipients:
Sadohana
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"Being awarded the SCCU grant is so very special for us. We are able to continue bringing our brand of healing, self-defence and art to the coast. Having the support of our credit union enables us to level-up our business, offer more online opportunities and service our members in the safety of their homes."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"Sadohana has launched an online academy to support our members with their training in the safety of their homes. We comply with all the regulations put forth by WorkSafe BC & have a diligent cleaning regime."
You can follow Sadohana @sadohana on Instagram or visit their website at www.sadohana.com
Davis Bay Tea Co.
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"Grant funds for developing a multi-channel marketing strategy for online sales are a blessing for any business in the current climate. When COVID shut down the economy and existing sales channels were cut off, having an up and running webstore was a lifeline for the business. Customers from everywhere found DBT Co via the internet. It was overwhelming, bewildering, a huge relief and highlighted the urgency for an updated online marketing plan"
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"The Sunshine Coasts’ largest retail and wholesale tea company established in 2017 providing unique recipe, delicious, small batch loose leaf tea everyone loves! Available at fine retailers, cafes & restaurants and online through our expanding website offering free local delivery and shipping Canada-wide. Embraced by locals and tourists DBT Co tea has become an essential daily ritual, more necessary now than ever as customers focus on self-care, healthy living, shopping small and supporting local."
You can follow Davis Bay Tea Co. @Davisbaytea on Facebook, @Davisbayteaco on Instagram or visit their website at www.davisbaytea.ca
Sunshine Coast Lavender Farm
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"Our Farm Shop is currently open by appointment for order pick up and shopping. An appointment can be made through our website with just a few clicks. Even though we are thought of as a seasonal stop we do offer great holiday gifts that are handcrafted in small batches. We also bring in a selection of other locally made items to give shoppers a variety to choose from."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"With this grant we will create a tour garden for our customers to explore, extending our offerings beyond our products and farm shop. We will also be installing a greenhouse, enabling us to propagate our own plants and become less dependent on outside suppliers and possibly become a supplier ourselves. We look forward to returning to regular open hours and the ability to host small groups for tours and educational explorations."
You can follow Sunshine Coast Lavender Farm @SCLavenderFarm on Facebook, @Sclavender_farm on Instagram or visit their website at www.sunshinecoastlavender.com
Geek in the Creek
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"We're continuing to bring quality service, repair, and education to Sunshine Coast residents for PC, Mac, and business. We have moved to office-free hours, available 7 days a week. One-on-one sessions are available in person, with proper protocols, or via Zoom. We also provide the service of safely disposing of and refurbishing old devices.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
This generous grant from SCCU will enable me to expand my customer base through new marketing and promotional channels. I hope to reach a wider array of Sunshine Coast residents and ensure that they have the right technology solutions available to them as our world moves ever further into a connected world of online communications."
You can follow Geek in the Creek @GeekintheCreek on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website at www.geekinthecreek.ca
The Brickers Cider Company
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
"This grant will go a long way to providing us with vinyl walls for our outdoor deck. With COVID we lost inside seating and this helps go towards bringing our ‘indoor’ capacity back up which will be incredibly helpful towards our winter income."
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"Locally made craft cider served at a beautiful, rural location with hot food and other drink options. We are making every effort to ensure COVID safety for customers and staff such as table distancing, one way movement and flexible purchasing options."
You can follow The Brickers Cider Company @brickerscider on Facebook and Instagram or visit their website at www.brickerscider.com
The Clubhouse Restaurant
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
We had to remove a lot of seats inside in order to maintain the required distance between tables inside the restaurant due to COVID-19. This grant will allow us to create seating in a heated patio to make up for the loss of those inside seats. Thank you Sunshine Coast Credit Union
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
"We are a locally owned family run restaurant in Pender Harbour offering Great Food and Great Times at a reasonable price, in a beautiful setting. We are open and adhering to all Public Health Orders, seven days a week for Lunch and Supper. We are supporting our local musicians by providing one of the few venues on the Coast that offers Live Music. Check out the Events page on our website to see who is performing next. We were awarded the Sunshine Coast 2020 Business Excellence Award for Outstanding Service, and we look forward to providing you with a tasty, relaxing break inside or out on the patio."
You can follow The Clubhouse Restaurant @The Clubhouse Restaurant at Pender Harbour on Facebook and @theclubhouseph on Instagram or visit their website at www.the-clubhouse-restaurant.com
Mise En Place Equestrian
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
Our barn is open and welcoming new riders and vaulters. Our environment has social distancing built-in, and because we are outside, masks are optional. We welcome all ages, and skill levels, and want everyone to feel that horses are accessible.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
This grant means we can replace equipment damaged by sanitizers with equipment designed to withstand sanitizing. We can upgrade our safety helmets and vaulting pads, and provide training for our learning coaches. It means a safer, more accessible community, which can welcome new (or older!) Riders.
You can follow Mise En Place Equestrian on Facebook or visit their website at www.mise-en-place.ca
Strait Up Climbing Ltd.
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
We are overjoyed to have been awarded SCCU's grant. This grant will allow us to continue to improve the health and safety of the climbing environment by facilitating another autobelayer and associated equipment, and help us reach a goal of expanding to the outdoors this coming spring and summer with our outdoor guiding program.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
When safe to do so, our space functions as a safe haven for the community members of Sechelt no matter their age, gender, or fitness background. We are hoping to offer an outdoor climbing experience next year.
You can follow Strait Up Climbing on Facebook or visit their website at www.straitupclimbing.com
Hough Heritage Farm
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
SCCU's generous grant has enabled Hough Heritage Farm to purchase freezers that allow us to sell nutritious and delicious meat by the cut in addition to wholes and halves. Selling meat in smaller portions means everyone in the community can access ethically raised nutrient dense pastured meat without needing a lot of freezer space in their own home.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
Hough Heritage Farm, raises pastured purebred Berkshire pigs, Dexter cattle, Icelandic sheep, Oberhasli goats, and heritage breed chickens and turkey, free range, on 10 acres of pasture and forest in Gibsons, BC. We raise our animals ethically and sustainably, and practice regenerative agriculture. Thanks to a generous grant from SCCU, Hough Heritage Farm is pleased to announce our new farm store is open and ready for business.We are open Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 3 pm or by appointment. Hough Heritage Farm is Class D licensed.
You can follow Hough Heritage Farm on Instagram or visit their website at www.houghfarm.ca
Music Makers
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
Thank you so much to Sunshine Coast Credit Union for this amazing grant as it has helped purchase instrument kits for children, cleaning supplies, and new technology equipment to help us pivot to online experiences if and when needed.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
Music Maker programs offer children and adults total participation in music through singing, movement and speech. Research has shown that math, reading, languages and sports are areas that are enhanced by early childhood music. Music Makers is open 5 days a week offering many different smaller classes where each child has there own set of instruments. With COVID-19 protocols in place music class is a safe and enjoyable experience!
You can follow Music Makers on Facebook @musicmakerssechel or visit their website at www.music-makers.ca
Round 3 Recipients
***With More Recipients to Come!***
AW Organics
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
We will be using this grant to set up a new commercially inspected kitchen space within our home. Our current space is small and shared between multiple businesses. This will allow us to better social distance while working and have the space we need to grow and offer new product lines. We want to start producing cold pressed oils but just don't have the space to do so where we are.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
We produce organic fair trade raw vegan chocolate and stone ground nut butters in Sechelt operating out of the Hooraw vegan market on Wharf. The store is open 12-5 mon-sat. You can also find us at various markets on the coast especially in the summer and in some local stores.
You can follow AW Organics on Facebook @arribarawchocolate or visit their website at www.aworganics.com
This Is Jennie Alexis
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
This grant is providing me with much needed financial support to pivot aspects of my business. I am able to hire and support other small businesses on the Coast in the creation and delivery of accessible online courses and programs for small businesses and individuals. Receiving this grant is an incredible gift, and I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to bring these projects into the world.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
I support small businesses and individuals in getting clear on how they want to communicate in and with their community. My approach focuses on integrity and values, which are the foundation of great communication for those dedicated to making an impact and harnessing their privilege for change. Ultimately, I believe that we are better together, and sharing our values creates stronger communities, businesses, and organizations.
Photo Credit: Kim Jay Soul
You can follow This Is Jennie Alexis on Facebook & Instagram @thisisjenniealexis or visit their website at www.thisisjenniealexis.com
Goodacre Market
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
This grant is so important to us and our community as the funds will allow us to strengthen our operations and continue to purchase from lots of local growers and food producers. It will be used to expand our online presence and to increase our package-free inventory options.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
Goodacre Market is a package-free grocery located inside of the Gibsons Public Market. We offer fresh seasonal produce, bulk foods, grocery items and locally produced goods! Come and re-fill your own containers with your favourite foods, in a stress free shopping environment!
You can follow Goodacre Market on Facebook & Instagram @goodacremarket
Coast Massage & Aromatherapy
What does this grant mean for you and your business?
I am so grateful to the Credit Union for providing this financial support exactly when I needed it! This grant will allow me to buy a computer and start website & brand development for my product line "Driftwood Apothecary". This pandemic has limited my in-person sales & marketing opportunities, so this funding is essential for me to transition into online sales, and will keep both of my businesses thriving in these uncertain times. A portion of every online sale will be donated to local charities.
What do you want Coasters to know about your business?
I'm open for business with strict Covid protocols in place. As a Certified Spa Therapist with over 20 years of experience in Aromatherapy & Holistic Health, my passion lies in helping Sunshine Coasters experience effective pain management and enhanced health through the use of Integrative Massage and organic plant-based skincare. I also offer mobile spa services for vacation rentals, on-site employee wellness chair massage, and I drive a zero-emission electric vehicle. I formulate and craft my bath & body products following the guidelines of Good Manufacturing Practices, and I use ethically sourced & fair-trade ingredients and sustainable packaging whenever possible.
You can follow Coast Massage & Aromatherapy on Facebook @secheltmassage and @driftwoodapothecary
SCCU reserves the right to alter or change any aspect of the REBUILD Business Grant Program including criteria, scoring matrix and timing.
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