Ever wondered what your business could do with an extra $10,000? Hire more staff? Help protect endangered marine life? For one Vancouver organization, this is now a reality. Today, ADP Canada, a leading provider of Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, announced Living Oceans Society, a Vancouver-based non-profit organization, as the fourth winner of $10,000 through the 2015 Small Business Grant Contest and the first grant winner this year in British Columbia. The contest offers entrepreneurs the chance to win a $10,000 cash prize.
In their winning entry, Living Oceans Society describes the important role they play by building solutions to address ocean conservation issues and working with coastal communities, governments and industries to protect Canada’s oceans.
Based in Sointula, a small fishing village on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Living Oceans Society is the largest organization in Canada focused exclusively on marine conservation.
Their ongoing efforts on the West Coast and across the country are helping to reduce harmful human impacts on the ocean through various initiatives including a marine debris program.
Living Oceans Society Executive Director Karen Wristen describes the challenge the organization faces with diversifying funding sources so it is not as dependent on philanthropic foundations. She notes that winning the ADP Small Business Grant Contest would help build on their outreach to volunteers and potential funders, who can provide the kind of sustainable funding that projects like marine debris removal requires. It is Living Oceans Society’s goal that with their ongoing work, they can continue to build awareness with governments about ongoing issues impacting the oceans so they can devote appropriate resources to solving it.
“Winning the ADP Small Business Grant will allow us to spend another summer season protecting the whales, dolphins and other marine mammals that make the North Vancouver Island region a popular tourist spot by hiring a summer student to work on coordinating our marine debris programme, and to help fund some of the travel costs associated with it,” said Wristen. “
The west coast of Vancouver Island has limited road access so our teams must use boats, barges and a helicopter to effectively remove debris from many of the beaches affected by the tsunami debris that continues to arrive, coupled with the industrial debris that appears on our coasts.”
The contest has been extended this year to companies with up to 99 employees, and the final voting period closes today (April 30, 2015). Winning organizations including Living Oceans Society will also receive up to $3,500 in waived payroll services for one year.
“It’s encouraging to see that the ADP Small Business Grant will be helping to support the ongoing and vital work that Living Oceans Society is doing to protect our oceans,” said Greg Secord, president, ADP Canada, employer services division.
“We are pleased to see that Living Oceans will be able to expand its staff so it can continue its meaningful work and expand its endeavours.”
Through its relationships with more than 425,000 small businesses across North America, ADP has unique insights into the challenges that confront entrepreneurs every day. ADP’s trusted small business solutions help reduce costs and compliance risks associated with complex rules and regulations, so owners can focus on growing their businesses.
To find out more about the ADP Small Business Grant Contest and to apply, visit ADPGrant.ca.