Downtown Abbotsford Joins Abbotsford Business Community Coalition (ABCC)

Abbotsford Business Group Forms to Help Those Struggling with COVID-19 Issues

Abbotsford Business Community Coalition (ABCC) launched to support local businesses

May 5, 2020 UPDATE – Abbotsford, BC – The Abbotsford Business Community Coalition (ABCC) is excited to announce a new tool to help independent local businesses stay afloat during

the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abbotsford has joined Support Local BC, an initiative created to support local, independent businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic by selling gift certificates for future use.

People who want to support local businesses and local businesses who want to be listed on the site should go to www.abbylocals.com/shop.

ABCC is covering all the payment processing fees, so the businesses people choose to support get the full value of the gift certificates and can make use of the funds immediately.

“When it’s time to get back to our normal lives, we all want our favourite restaurant, coffee shop, yoga studio, hair stylist, or neighbourhood retailer to be there for us, said Jennifer McEwan, Executive Director of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association. “For that to happen, we need to be there for them right now. That’s what locals do.”

The campaign is not just for individuals. For those who can afford to do so, the Coalition is encouraging companies to take advantage of this opportunity to frontload their catering budgets, pre-purchase client and employee appreciation gifts, or just support their team’s favourite local coffee shop.

Abbotsford Tech District, a member of the Coalition, is priming the pump and encouraging others to join in. The proposed tech hub on Sumas Mountain has committed to buying $5000 worth of food and beverage gift certificates, then donating them to local charities and community organizations for fundraising purposes such as silent auctions.

“We’re proposing an academic and commercial hub for agricultural innovation and food security, so we wanted to put our money where our mouth is by supporting local food businesses,” said Gavin Dew, Chief Strategic Advisor for Abbotsford Tech District. “A vibrant local economy makes for a strong local charitable sector, so we’re excited to double the impact by supporting both.”

“When you buy a coffee or a haircut or a staycation experience for a few months from now, you’re not just making plans – you’re making a huge difference for local businesses and their people, “said Katerina Anastasiadis, Executive Director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce.

“We’ll get through this together,” said Dave Sidhu, President of the Fraser Valley Indo Canadian Business Association. “That’s what locals do.”

Leaders in the Abbotsford business community are coming together to support local business and lay the groundwork for economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new Abbotsford Business Community Coalition (ABCC) has recently been launched in order to align and coordinate efforts both during and after the pandemic and associated social distancing measures. Augmenting government efforts, ABCC members are meeting regularly to develop and deploy fast-moving strategies to build economic confidence, help struggling businesses, and mobilize and bring together the Abbotsford community.

“We all need to do our part to stop the spread,” said Jennifer McEwan, Executive Director of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association. “Social distancing is a critical aspect of the COVID-19 response, but one of the side effects is a major blow to our local small business community.”

“Local businesses add up to a major share of the jobs in our community, but their impact goes beyond dollars and cents,” said Dave Sidhu, President of the Fraser Valley Indo Canadian Business Association. “Businesses and their people are what gives our neighbourhoods their character – we are all invested in their survival and success in one way or another.”

The members of the Abbotsford Business Community Coalition include:

• Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
• A&Co
• Abbotsford Downtown Business Association
• Abbotsford Tech District
• Abbotsford News
• City of Abbotsford Economic Development Department
• Community Futures
• Fraser Valley Indo Canadian Business Association
• Patrika Newspaper
• STAR 98.3 FM + Country 107.1 FM
• Tourism Abbotsford
• University of the Fraser Valley
• YXX – Abbotsford Airport

“More than anything, we want to remind people that this too shall pass,” said Melinda Friesen, President of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important that we support each other during this difficult time, but one of the most important things we can do is to look forward and believe that a brighter day will come.”