Supports for Economic Preparedness

Last updated on August 19, 2025

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Natural disasters can have wide-reaching effects on local economies, businesses, and livelihoods. This page provides information to help businesses and communities strengthen their preparedness and reduce economic disruption before a disaster strikes.

Tip: Bookmark this webpage and access the supports online. Updates are ongoing.

Current support programs and tools

FOR BUSINESSES

Business continuity plan | Business Development Bank of Canada: A step-by-step guide with templates to help businesses plan for emergencies and recover quickly

Disaster Business resources | Community Futures: Support for rural small businesses, including planning, financing, and recovery help

FireSmart resources library | Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre: Practical guides and checklists to reduce wildfire risk and protect business property

Open for Business™ Guide | Institute of Catastrophic Loss Reduction: Free tools to help your business prepare for and recover from disasters

PreparedBC guides | Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness: Easy-to-use guides and templates for businesses, families, and individuals to get ready for emergencies

Ready Rating ™ | Canadian Red Cross: A free tool to check and improve your business’s emergency preparedness

Disaster preparedness resources | BC Economic Development Association: Tools to help businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, including evacuation tips and support programs

Emergency management for agriculture | Ministry of Agriculture and Foods: Resources to help farmers and producers prepare for and recover from agricultural emergencies

Emergency preparedness for tourism | DestinationBC: Checklists and templates to help tourism businesses prepare for emergencies and keep people safe

FOR COMMUNITIES

Economic preparedness planning self-assessment (PDF, 190KB): A quick-reference tool for economic development officers to assess and improve local business emergency preparedness and access to key planning resources

Small business and tourism operator preparedness social media package: Tools prepared for organizations and associations that support small businesses and tourism operations, including Indigenous and local governments

Four Phases - Emergency management resource for communities: A monthly newsletter from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness

Regional Economic Trusts

These organizations support long-term economic development in rural and regional areas. They can help businesses explore funding opportunities, build local connections, and plan for future growth. Businesses are encouraged to reach out directly to learn more.

Columbia Basin Trust
Economic Trust of the Southern Interior
Island Coastal Economic Trust
New Relationship Trust
Northern Development Initiatives Trust

Funding and grant search tools

Use these grant search tools to locate economic development funding through existing provincial and other (non-governmental, regional, federal) programs and initiatives.

Provincial economic development funding & grants search tool

Canada business benefits finder

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.