BONNYVILLE – The Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce will receive the remaining ,500 in funding that the Town of Bonnyville has already set aside for 2026, but this year those dollars are tied directly to projects, events, and business advocacy.

Town Council unanimously approved the Chamber’s funding allocation request during its Sept. 8 meeting.

The Town budgeted $17,500 for the Chamber in 2026. During budget deliberations, however, council shifted $15,000 from a traditional operating grant to project-based funding, requiring the Chamber to bring its plans back to council before the money was released.

The Chamber’s latest request outlined how it will spend the remaining $13,500, with the largest portion going toward economic advocacy.

$4,500 for economic advocacy and regional partnership

The Chamber will receive $4,500 for its Premier Economic Advocacy and NRED Partnership.

According to its proposal, the Chamber is collaborating through the Ad Hoc Committee on an NRED grant application. The work would include regional business surveys and data collection to identify business needs and issues related to retention and attraction.

The Town would be co-branded on that work and receive a recurring Mayor’s Message space in Chamber business communications.

Another $4,000 will support Small Business Week and the State of the Region Luncheon in October.

Mayor Elisa Brosseau is expected to be the main presenter at the State of the Region Luncheon, while the Town will also receive recognition at the Chamber’s Business Support Conference on Oct. 21.

Shop local and Christmas initiatives included

Council also approved $2,000 toward the Chamber Perks App and Shop Local campaigns.

The partnership will give the Town a year-round presence on the app and include the municipality in Shop Local advertising, including the Chamber’s Christmas shopping campaign.

The final $3,000 will go toward the Chamber’s Business Christmas Party, providing the Town with Gold Sponsor status and a table for four. The Chamber noted those seats could also be donated to a local non-profit.

The Chamber is also providing its downtown Chilli Cook-Off, valued at $3,000, at no additional cost to the Town this year.

During the council meeting, Brosseau said she appreciated the Chamber providing more detail on where the Town’s funding would go.

“I really appreciate the detail and the outline as far as the specific events and projects that they’re doing and, you know, where our funding is going to go,” Brosseau said.

She added that the Chamber continues to expand what it is doing for Bonnyville’s businesses and local economy.

Councillor Byron Johnson made the motion to approve the $13,500 allocation.

The money was already included in the Town’s 2026 operating budget, meaning the approval does not add any new spending to this year’s budget.