**TIMMINS CHAMBER NEWS RELEASE**

Today, The Chamber is pleased to announce the newest partnership with Full Beard Brewing Co. to bolster the Chamber’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Support Grant. The announcement comes at the launch of Full Beard’s latest batch entitled Together, We Are Stronger—a support local campaign.

As the Province has allowed food vendors to include the sale of unopened alcohol to accompany purchases, the Brewery’s low-cost sale and distribution of the beer is designed to support small- to medium-sized entrepreneurs who were impacted by the pandemic and are now beginning to reopen. The campaign will also see remaining revenues donated to the Timmins PPE Support Grant in the range of $4,500 dollars. The beer is available exclusively through local licensees, such as restaurants, and other venues that sell Full Beard’s products.

At the moment, the Together, We Are Stronger beer is available in limited quantity at Full Beard Brewery with only two cans per purchase as customers are encouraged to purchase from participating restaurants, such as Radical Gardens, Mike’s Restaurant and Moneta Pub & Grub.

“We are applauding this new partnership with Full Beard, who have stepped up with an extraordinarily creative campaign,” said Val Venneri, President of the Chamber. “To date, the Chamber and founding funder Newmont Porcupine have approved a total of 60 successful applicants totalling grants in the amount of $45,000 and this latest commitment from Full Beard will seek to help many more entrepreneurs with the purchase of PPE.”

The program continues as part of the recommendations of the Chamber and City Joint Business Continuity and Recovery Advisory Task Force and now boasts approximately $125,000 siphoned back into our business community.

“We at Full Beard Brewing are pleased to be able to give back to our clients and our business community through this new partnership,” stated Benjie Potvin, Co-owner and Brewery General Manager. “We rely on the strong partnerships we’ve built in the region to run our business and having an opportunity to provide support during these difficult times, aligns perfectly with Full Beard’s community focus.”

“We’re also encouraging restaurants and other takeout businesses to contact Full Beard to purchase the Together, We Are Stronger beer and help grow their bottom lines.”

The Chamber continues to administer the suite of programming supported by founding funder Newmont Porcupine and in partnership with The Venture Centre, MNP LLP, Lake Shore Gold, and now Full Beard Brewing Co. Any business wanting to apply for initiatives under the Timmins Emergency Business Fund’s are encouraged to visit The Chamber’s website for more information.  

“The Chamber is still encouraging business to apply to the support grant and business leaders to contribute to the Personal Protective Equipment Support Grant,” added Venneri. “If you are interested in providing support to the fund, contact the Chamber.”

To apply to any of the Chamber’s support programs, visit https://www.timminschamber.on.ca/support.html. To view the Chamber’s COVID-19 Business Toolkit, visit www.timminschamber.on.ca/COVID-19  

Filed under: Local News