(UPDATE: May 26, 2020) - Applications for small business grants in the Okanagan have opened.
A local entrepreneur started the charity initiative to fund grants for small businesses affected by COVID-19.
This Bag was created by Susie Gay, with the help of her husband and her daughter.
Proceeds from the sale of tote bags that read "This Bag Helped a Small Business" go towards helping businesses in our region get back on their feet.
Now, you can nominate a deserving business online to help them get access to the grant money. Businesses can also apply for the money themselves.
The $1,000 grants will start being handed out in June.
Click here for more information.
(Original story: April 30, 2020)
A local entrepreneur has started a charity initiative to fund grants for small businesses affected by COVID-19.
This Bag was created by Susie Gay, with the help of her husband and her daughter.
As a small business owner who will likely not be able to operate this tourism season, she says she wanted to help out others in the same situation.
Gay owns Penticton Paddle Surf and the clothing brand Antlers Beach. Seeing as she sells her clothing at markets and her paddle board company depends on tourists, she decided to focus her efforts on something to help the community.
People can order a tote bag online with the slogan “This Bag Helped a Small Business” on it, with 100% of the proceeds going towards helping local businesses weather the pandemic.
As soon as they have enough money raised from sales, Gay says they will work with several organizations to distrbute the funds as small business grants.
Gay describes the bags as a “It a one size fits all product” that has the message right on it, so it’s easy to tell your friends and family about.
While the fundraising initiative will focus on those in the Okanagan at first, Gay says that she would love to see it expand to the rest of BC and Canada.
Not only is This Bag looking to support local businesses, you can also purchase totes to raise money for other charities that help provide people with access to clean water or educate girls in other countries.
For more information, click here.
