COVID Community Support Part 1

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Guest Writer Nick Clark

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We all know the importance of Social Distancing in the battle against COVID-19, yet Albertans are coming together in many different ways to support their community.

A message from UTILITYnet: As Alberta faces challenging times, we are so proud to see a number of Energy Marketers in our network of small local businesses going above and beyond their typical community initiatives, to again support the places they live and work.

A dozen years ago we started this business and in a methodical way, against all odds, we helped created and are supporting a network of small independent companies. They are located regionally all over our province, selling electricity and natural gas at competitive prices and going head to head against the big utilities. We didn’t shipped jobs out of the country. We are local.

Our goal was to empower individuals, businesses, and community ventures to take part in Alberta’s energy market. Working together, supporting a local company is simply a good business strategy, but there is more to this story.

We wanted to share with you a couple of good news stories that shine and will bring a smile to your face. This is the first in a two-part series. Check back again next week to hear how other Energy Marketers are doing their part.

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Mountain View Power – 3D Printing Face Shields and Supporting Local Business Development

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Mountain View Power (MVP) was formed alongside the Olds Institute as an innovative community sustainability initiative. MVP sells electricity, natural gas, and green energy to residents and small businesses located in the County of Mountain View, and invests 100% of its profits in supporting and growing the region in a vibrant and sustainable manner.

Since its inception in 2010, MVP has generated over $1 million for the Olds community, and the funds have been invested in a wide variety of programs over the years.

“Every citizen in our community has been touched by a program or service that has been funded by Mountain View Power,” said Mitch Thomson, Executive Director of Olds Institute/Mountain View Power. “Whether that be the WiFi, a doctor, or a school program.”

One such program is now being utilized in a unique way to support the fight against the spread of COVID-19. A number of 3D printers were donated to the Municipal Library over the last couple years to support its makerspace.

“When the province presented their modeling regarding pandemic scenarios in Alberta, we recognized that the conservative modelling identified potential Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) shortages,” said Thomson. “We went online and found a template and approached our library about producing face shields. They agreed and we started printing, with MVP paying for all supplies and sourcing additional parts.”

“Ear guards were next on the list after a nurse from the local hospital reached out and requested that we also start producing them.”

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After the library shared what it was doing, other regional libraries decided to join in and offered to start printing. MVP then reached out to its college with the same offer to pay for supplies, find additional components, and look after distribution. The college has now come on board with its four 3D printers.

It is anticipated that this local collaboration will produce hundreds of face shields and ear guards for the region.

Producing and donating much needed PPE equipment is not the only way MVP has made a difference in the community. Its Physician Retention Program has helped to attract and retain a number of physicians in the area. The benefits of this program are sure to be fully realized at a time where access to healthcare professionals is in high demand.

“Shortly after the inception of MVP, we recognized a need in the community to attract local physicians because at the time we only had seven,” said Thomson. “We formed a committee that hosted and acted as ambassadors for prospective physicians, we promoted our community to medical students, and hosted skills training weekends for them in our community.”

“The committee worked itself out of a job after helping to attract more than a dozen new physicians. Today, this story comes full circle. We attracted physicians and health care professionals to care for our community, and now we hope to provide them with equipment to care for our residents and customers.”

MVP has also recognized how challenging the environment is today for local businesses, which is why a portion of its proceeds support its Information and Entrepreneurship Centre.

It provides programming that supports capacity development in non-profit organizations and skill development for budding entrepreneurs. It also hosts a website that acts as a community and business directory, as well as community calendar. The website provides links to the community and region relative to what is happening and provides information on where to find products and services.

This site provides the most comprehensive information about changing hours for businesses and services as well as supportive information for individuals, families, and organizations during the pandemic.

“Our collaborative organization saw retail electricity and natural gas marketing as a tool to fund programs that keep people connected in the good times and the tough times,” said Thomson. “Profits fund programs that support and keep people connected.”

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Camrose Energy: Supporting Local Businesses in a Unique Way

Denise Hawkins has become a well-known name around the city of Camrose. Denise and her husband Russell started Camrose Energy, which sells electricity and natural gas to their local community and across Alberta, in 2012. They know first-hand the value of supporting local businesses.

“I believe so strongly in shopping local,” said Denise. “We would not have had the same level of success if those in my community did not see the value in supporting local. It is more important now than ever to do what we can to support those businesses that are facing challenging times because of the pandemic.”

Camrose Energy’s dedication to their community is built directly into their business model. Through its Community Partner Program, Camrose Energy customers can choose which supported organization they want to donate to, and Camrose Energy donates 10% of the profits made through the sale of electricity and gas to them. Some organizations in the Community Partner Program include Habitat for Humanity Camrose, Canadian Mental Health Association, the Battle River Watershed Alliance, The Open Door, and more.

Above and beyond their Community Partner Program, Denise and Russel have shown their support during the pandemic in a number of ways, including buying gift cards from local businesses; running contests with prizes sourced from Camrose businesses; purchasing craft projects and donating them to families whose children needed a distraction; purchasing 20 ceramic mugs and donating them to one of their Community Partners so the youth in shelters had an activity to do; and more.

“One week we delivered donuts from a small independent business to healthcare workers and their families,” said Denise. “The small gesture brought smiles to their faces and truly warmed my heart.”

Denise is also part of the organizing committee of a shop local initiative called CashMob. Members of the group meet at the Chamber of Commerce office with a commitment to spend $20 at a mystery location, and then convoy to a pre-arranged destination, which must be a locally-owned and operated business, to shop.

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The group has been Mobbing since October 2016 and has kept over $60,000 local to build the strength in the local economy.

In response to social distancing measures now in place, the face of the CashMob has changed. The group now posts the businesses that are open and doing curb side pick ups. Residents can post pictures of their locally bought items to the CashMob Facebook Page. Each post means an entry to win a $100 bouquet from a local flower shop, sponsored by Camrose Energy.

“There are many things residents can do to support businesses in their community,” said Denise. “If you are not in a position to purchase items like gift cards, you can interact with these businesses online, share their posts on social media, and leave positive reviews on their local business pages.”

“When our local businesses thrive, so does our community. When your community thrives, we all benefit.“

A Final Message from the Owners of UTILITYnet

It always amazes us what can be accomplished when people like Denise from Camrose Energy and the folks at Mountain View Power invest back into their communities.

If you unfortunately find yourself having difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, you are out of work, laid off, or possibly need to consider deferring your utility invoice for a month or two, please don’t hesitate to give us a call and we will try to help out.

Keep well, keep safe.

Nick Clark and Madeline Low, founders of UTILITYnet.

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