Regina chamber’s campaign gets $1M from Sask. government

The Government of Saskatchewan is putting up $1 million to remind people to shop local during the COVID-19 health crisis.

In a media release Friday, the provincial government said it was providing the funding to support a province-wide marketing campaign. The money is going to the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce, which will work with other regional chambers to expand its “Together We Stand” campaign throughout Saskatchewan.

“Encouraging Saskatchewan residents to buy local is a great initiative of the business community that we are pleased to support during this unprecedented difficult economic time,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said in the release.

“This consumer campaign to support local businesses, led by the Regina Chamber and to be shared across our province, will help connect consumers directly with Saskatchewan businesses during the ongoing pandemic, throughout our economic recovery initiatives, and for the long term.”

While many businesses in the province had to close their doors due to the virus, others remained open — but many experienced a sharp drop in sales.

The “Together We Stand” campaign is designed to help generate sales for those businesses as they look to provide their services online or through pickup or delivery, or when they reopen their doors.

“There are a number of ways residents can support local businesses here, and that’s true for people supporting their local businesses right across Saskatchewan,” Regina and District Chamber of Commerce CEO John Hopkins said in the release.