Santa's Sleigh hard at work in Morden and Winkler. Morden Chamber of Commerce/Facebook.

A pair of local chambers of commerce are among the list of organizations benefiting from the Manitoba government's $1.5 million commitment to the province's small business sector.

Santa loading the sleigh, courtesy Murray Chrysler, Morden Checker Signs and SHINE Paint Protection, gearing up to deliver some Christmas cheer in Morden and Winkler. Courtesy Morden Chamber of Commerce/Facebook.

The provincial funding announced earlier in December is designed to help support business and chambers throughout Manitoba in developing and promoting their community businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sharing in those dollars is the Morden and District Chamber of Commerce which is already spearheading a few initiatives to encourage shopping local, particularly this holiday season.

"The support we're seeing for local businesses is amazing already," said executive director, Candace Olafson. "The Chamber is working really hard to get that message out there, that you can shop locally and it can be easy and that these small businesses need our support right now. We've been seeing that and it's been encouraging."

On the go right now is the #shopmorden social media campaign that sees customers entered to win gift cards to local businesses when they post about their support using the hashtag. The Chamber is giving away a total $1,000 in prizes.

In addition, the organization has launched the Santa Sleigh Delivery Service which offers chamber members free delivery of their products to customers in Morden and Winkler at no charge.

"This is a way for the Chamber to help out retailers, with many of them being closed or not being able to sell in-store, this just makes shopping locally so much easier because your purchase is going to come right to your doorstep," explained Olafson.

As well, the Morden and District Chamber of Commerce has posted a Shop Local Guide to its web site listing local businesses and the products and services they offer, and how to get in touch.

Meantime, the Altona and District Chamber of Commerce is getting $18,700 through the provincial stimulus program.

"I'm really excited that the province has stepped up and helped with shopping local, and that the Altona Chamber had programs and projects that we could take advantage of the funding," said interim manager, Cheryl Link.

A portion of the funds will be used to further the organization's Take Out To Win social media contest running in conjunction with the Plum Coulee Chamber of Commerce and S.E.E.D.

All customers have to do is post photos of their receipts when they spend $30 at local restaurants or delis, include the hashtag #shoplocal and tag the Altona and District Chamber of Commerce for a chance to win weekly prizes and ultimately, a grand prize.

In addition, the provincial dollars will go to supporting the organization's Chamber Bucks program which, according to Link, has been quite successful this season with over $100,000 in vouchers sold to businesses in the community so far. She explains those businesses are circulating the Bucks to their employees who will in turn, spend them at Altona Chamber member businesses.

"It's wonderful! The community has really stepped up, those businesses have stepped up and are supporting shop local," said Link.

As well, the Chamber just announced the Altona Santa Delivery Service for all of its retail businesses this holiday season.

It's partnered with the Altona Elks and YFC - The Station to offer free door-to-door delivery, starting December 14 to January 10, to help local businesses navigate the challenges of the new shopping restrictions and help get their products to customers.

A portion of the funds will be used to further the Altona Chamber's Take Out To Win social media contest running in conjunction with the Plum Coulee Chamber of Commerce and S.E.E.D.