Get your business Nelson Ready
By Contributor
Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership (NAEDP) wants local business to be Nelson Ready.
That means being prepared for the unexpected and taking some key steps now, before disaster strikes.
“We know our province is vulnerable to wildfires, floods, landslides, windstorms, and other unexpected events. Since we can’t predict when something might happen or what area will be impacted, everyone needs to be prepared – especially if you run your own business,” said Nelson Ready Coordinator Jenna Annett.
“We’re encouraging businesses to prepare now.”
To help businesses prepare for the unexpected, NAEDP is hosting a free seminar on Thursday, May 12th from 10 a.m. until noon at the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce.
Participants will have a chance to learn about building their business continuity plan, emergency preparedness, and important insurance needs and considerations.
To be Nelson Ready, businesses complete their business continuity plan with Community Future’s free online tool. Too busy to complete a full plan? Community Futures Central Kootenay has developed 4 Steps for Emergency Preparedness.
Step 1 is making a grab and go kit, and evacuation plan; Step 2 is compiling critical business information; Step 3 an insurance checklist; Step 4 is an emergency responder package. You can find resources to complete these steps at nelsonready.com.
Businesses that finish the 4 Steps by June 30 will be entered in a draw to win a $50 gift certificate to a local business of their choice. Businesses that complete their full Business Continuity plan will be entered to win $500 towards their next insurance renewal.
“Businesses working towards being ‘Nelson Ready’ can access to free support and resources as they work through the process of writing a Business Continuity Plan and/or completing the 4 Steps for Emergency Preparedness,” Annett said.
“We want to encourage businesses to have their strategy in place before fire season – and they can win some great prizes if they do.”
Community Futures Central Kootenay and the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce are both promoting and participating in the Nelson Ready campaign, as partner organizations with NAEDP.
“Our office has created emergency plans in the past, but Nelson Ready is a good reminder to dust them off and see what needs updating,” said Community Futures Executive Director Andrea Wilkey.
“The planning we do now is going to help us respond and recover more effectively to unexpected events – whether that’s an extended power outage or a communicable disease outbreak. An emergency plan can apply to anything that interrupts the regular operation of our organization.”
The Nelson Ready campaign will run for two months, from May 1 to June 30. For more information and to register your business as a Nelson Ready participant, visit nelsonready.com.
About Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership
The Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership (NAEDP) is an innovative collaboration between the City of Nelson, RDCK Electoral Areas E and F, Community Futures Central Kootenay, and the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce. It was formed so that local and community economic development opportunities in and around Nelson, British Columbia could be pursued jointly, efficiently, and effectively.
