Latest news with #EMP
Business Journals
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Navigating electrical maintenance facility requirements: What you need to know
Commercial and industrial facility management requires balancing costs, efficiency, maintenance, and safety. Having clear guidelines and support makes it easier. New National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70B guidelines outline requirements for these facilities for regular electrical maintenance, ensuring the safety and operability of equipment, as well as the well-being of building occupants. Maintaining compliance with the electrical code is key for keeping your building up to code, as well as safe and easier to manage in the long run. New NFPA 70B guidelines: What you need to know The NFPA 70B guidelines serve as a guide for industrial and commercial facilities. Published in 2023, the updated NFPA guidelines include updated language, marking a shift from a recommendation of maintenance to noting an electrical maintenance plan (EMP) as a formal plan facilities shall have in place moving forward. According to the NFPA, the updated language serves to 'provide for the practical safeguarding of persons, property, and processes from the risks associated with failure, breakdown, or malfunction.' The regulations are also designed to offer safety and reliability within a facility with 'a condition of maintenance of electrical equipment and systems.' The importance of electrical maintenance plans Electrical maintenance plans set a strong foundation for a well-maintained facility. Under NFPA 70B, electrical maintenance plans outline equipment testing, user training, risk assessments, and documentation requirements to promote safety and efficiency for building managers, facility engineers, and equipment operators. Every EMP should be designed to fit the individual facility's needs. Overhauling an entire building at once in order to meet code requirements is not always the most efficient or budget-friendly solution. Egan Company's team has worked with commercial and industrial facilities of all sizes, helping create custom solutions to bring equipment and buildings up to code methodically without drastically impacting budgets. Electrical maintenance plans can include: Electrical apparatus testing Infrared scans Electrical maintenance training Gear cleaning Arc flash studies Arc risk assessments Electrically safe work conditions Documentation of equipment and service Equipment and facility alerts Maintenance tracking and record-keeping Condition logging Maintenance intervals based on equipment type, criticality, and condition Asset tracking Implementing a customized electrical maintenance plan empowers facility teams, giving them greater control of the facility and electrical systems while promoting safety and efficiency. Make a plan (or update a plan) for your facility The safety, efficiency, and reliability of your facility's equipment is critical for your business' operations. A well-designed electrical maintenance plan that is up to date with NFPA 70B codes, as well as other local, state, and federal regulations, can extend the lifespan of your equipment, reduce downtime from unexpected breakdowns, and enhance the overall performance and safety of your facility. While running a commercial or industrial facility demands a lot from building managers and engineers, keeping up with electrical codes and maintenance plans doesn't have to be one of them. Multi-trades contractors and system integrators like Egan Company work alongside facility teams of all sizes, developing custom plans that fit each unique facilities' equipment and budget needs. Safety is at the heart of everything Egan does, and its electricians, service technicians, and account managers stay up to date with the latest safety guidelines from the NFPA and other organizations to ensure that wherever Egan goes, safety follows. To dig deeper with NFPA 70B or other electrical code requirements, connect with Egan, your local resource serving buildings across the state for over 80 years. Egan Company is a locally owned multi-trades contractor and system integrator with expertise in mechanical, electrical, engineering and design, curtain wall/glazing/panel systems (InterClad), millwrights, fabrication, building systems, controls and system integration, and service. Its purpose is anchored in passion and pride, Egan builds better lives and communities — together.
Associated Press
26-06-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
GreenShield Expands Essential Medicines Program Across Canada to Bridge Gaps in Drug Coverage for Underserved Canadians
TORONTO, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ - GreenShield, Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, is proud to announce the expansion of its Essential Medicines program (EMP) to Nova Scotia and Alberta. This milestone reinforces GreenShield's commitment to bridging the health equity gap by supporting underserved Canadians. With over one million Canadians lacking prescription drug coverage, this expansion builds on the success of the program's 2023 launch in Ontario and reflects GreenShield's vision for a scalable, community-driven model that delivers universal drug coverage where it is needed most. GreenShield's Essential Medicines program provides 12 months of access to essential prescription medications - up to a value of $1,000 - at no cost to eligible individuals without private or public drug coverage. Medications are dispensed, shipped, and supported through GreenShield's pharmacy, ensuring a seamless and dignified experience for those who need it most. 'Our Essential Medicines program is rooted in our founding purpose,' said Zahid Salman, President & CEO of GreenShield. 'Nearly 70 years ago, our journey began in a Windsor pharmacy, where a mother faced an impossible choice between her health and her child's. That moment inspired our founder to create North America's first prepaid drug plan. Today, that same belief drives us: no Canadian should have to choose between health and affordability. This program shows how public-private partnerships can create lasting, scalable solutions to Canada's healthcare challenges.' Tailored Regional Delivery GreenShield's Essential Medicines program is delivered through customized, community-based partnerships that reflect the unique needs of each region. This approach enables GreenShield to reach those most in need. In Nova Scotia, for example, GreenShield works through a referral-based partnership model with IONS (Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia), connecting with local organizations whose staff and clients require access to essential medicines. One participant, Emily McCallum, a part-time student and nanny managing a fibromyalgia diagnosis, shared: 'It definitely took a large chunk of stress out of things. Even if a doctor changes my medication, I don't have to panic about whether I can afford it. There's at least one consistent thing in my healthcare now—and that gives me more space to focus on school.' In Alberta, the program is being piloted in partnership with The Alex Community Health Centre in Calgary, which has served the city's most vulnerable residents for over 50 years. Bethan Simms, Director of Primary Care at The Alex, noted: 'We see people delay or abandon treatment because they simply can't afford it. GreenShield's partnership has been essential for creating a responsive and supportive environment for our team's needs.' A Scalable Model for National Impact GreenShield's Essential Medicines program is more than a short-term solution—it's a proven, scalable, and sustainable blueprint for equitable access to prescription drug coverage in Canada. As a purpose-driven, non-profit health and benefits company, GreenShield reinvests its services and excess earnings to improve the health and well-being of underserved populations. The organization focuses its efforts where it has the expertise to make the greatest impact—specifically in the areas of mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management. The Essential Medicines program is one of several signature initiatives under the GreenShield Cares social impact platform. It is designed to fill critical gaps in the current system by supporting individuals who lack drug coverage, without reducing access for those with employer-sponsored plans or shifting the funding burden to taxpayers. By working with trusted community partners, the program is tailored to local needs while complementing existing public and private systems. 'As we expand to more provinces, the impact of our Essential Medicines program will grow—not just in prescriptions filled, but in lives impacted,' said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President, GreenShield Cares. 'This is what it looks like when a purpose-driven non-profit organization works hand-in-hand with community partners to deliver meaningful, measurable change. It's not just about access—it's about dignity, equity, and building a healthier future for all.' This program builds on GreenShield's long-standing commitment to addressing Canada's most pressing health challenges through data-informed, community-based solutions. As outlined in its 2024 Impact Report, GreenShield has invested over $59 million and positively impacted nearly 750,000 lives, and is on track to reach its goal of investing $75 million to improve the lives of at least one million Canadians by the end of 2025. Read GreenShield's full Impact Report here: SOURCE GreenShield
Cision Canada
26-06-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
GreenShield Expands Essential Medicines Program Across Canada to Bridge Gaps in Drug Coverage for Underserved Canadians Français
TORONTO, June 26, 2025 /CNW/ - GreenShield, Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, is proud to announce the expansion of its Essential Medicines program (EMP) to Nova Scotia and Alberta. This milestone reinforces GreenShield's commitment to bridging the health equity gap by supporting underserved Canadians. With over one million Canadians lacking prescription drug coverage, this expansion builds on the success of the program's 2023 launch in Ontario and reflects GreenShield's vision for a scalable, community-driven model that delivers universal drug coverage where it is needed most. GreenShield's Essential Medicines program provides 12 months of access to essential prescription medications - up to a value of $1,000 - at no cost to eligible individuals without private or public drug coverage. Medications are dispensed, shipped, and supported through GreenShield's pharmacy, ensuring a seamless and dignified experience for those who need it most. "Our Essential Medicines program is rooted in our founding purpose," said Zahid Salman, President & CEO of GreenShield. "Nearly 70 years ago, our journey began in a Windsor pharmacy, where a mother faced an impossible choice between her health and her child's. That moment inspired our founder to create North America's first prepaid drug plan. Today, that same belief drives us: no Canadian should have to choose between health and affordability. This program shows how public-private partnerships can create lasting, scalable solutions to Canada's healthcare challenges." Tailored Regional Delivery GreenShield's Essential Medicines program is delivered through customized, community-based partnerships that reflect the unique needs of each region. This approach enables GreenShield to reach those most in need. In Nova Scotia, for example, GreenShield works through a referral-based partnership model with IONS (Impact Organizations of Nova Scotia), connecting with local organizations whose staff and clients require access to essential medicines. One participant, Emily McCallum, a part-time student and nanny managing a fibromyalgia diagnosis, shared: "It definitely took a large chunk of stress out of things. Even if a doctor changes my medication, I don't have to panic about whether I can afford it. There's at least one consistent thing in my healthcare now—and that gives me more space to focus on school." In Alberta, the program is being piloted in partnership with The Alex Community Health Centre in Calgary, which has served the city's most vulnerable residents for over 50 years. Bethan Simms, Director of Primary Care at The Alex, noted: "We see people delay or abandon treatment because they simply can't afford it. GreenShield's partnership has been essential for creating a responsive and supportive environment for our team's needs." A Scalable Model for National Impact GreenShield's Essential Medicines program is more than a short-term solution—it's a proven, scalable, and sustainable blueprint for equitable access to prescription drug coverage in Canada. As a purpose-driven, non-profit health and benefits company, GreenShield reinvests its services and excess earnings to improve the health and well-being of underserved populations. The organization focuses its efforts where it has the expertise to make the greatest impact—specifically in the areas of mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management. The Essential Medicines program is one of several signature initiatives under the GreenShield Cares social impact platform. It is designed to fill critical gaps in the current system by supporting individuals who lack drug coverage, without reducing access for those with employer-sponsored plans or shifting the funding burden to taxpayers. By working with trusted community partners, the program is tailored to local needs while complementing existing public and private systems. "As we expand to more provinces, the impact of our Essential Medicines program will grow—not just in prescriptions filled, but in lives impacted," said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President, GreenShield Cares. "This is what it looks like when a purpose-driven non-profit organization works hand-in-hand with community partners to deliver meaningful, measurable change. It's not just about access—it's about dignity, equity, and building a healthier future for all." This program builds on GreenShield's long-standing commitment to addressing Canada's most pressing health challenges through data-informed, community-based solutions. As outlined in its 2024 Impact Report, GreenShield has invested over $59 million and positively impacted nearly 750,000 lives, and is on track to reach its goal of investing $75 million to improve the lives of at least one million Canadians by the end of 2025.
The Star
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Khazanah, unit pick first five venture capital firms
PETALING JAYA: Khazanah Nasional Bhd and its subsidiary, Jelawang Capital, have selected their first five venture capital (VC) firms under the Emerging Fund Managers' Programme (EMP) and Regional Fund Managers' Initiative (RFI) to nurture local VC fund managers and cultivate a more vibrant VC capital ecosystem. The firms selected under the EMP are Vynn Capital, Kairous Capital and First Move, while two firms chosen under the RFI were AppWorks and Granite Asia. The EMP programme is structured to support Malaysian fund managers in raising their first, second or third fund with the goal of creating regionally competitive VC fund managers by strengthening fund governance, building track record and crowding in capital, said a joint statement by the sovereign wealth fund and Jelawang Capital. The RFI initiative aims to attract regional and global fund managers who are committed to enriching the local startup ecosystem, through supporting the growth of Malaysian startups to be regional and global players, including facilitating the re-domiciliation of global companies in Malaysia to expand local job capabilities and attract quality talent in the Malaysian ecosystem. 'Through Dana Impak and Jelawang Capital, we act as both catalyst and connector – bringing together funders, founders, and institutions to strengthen a venture ecosystem that supports firms from nimble startups to medium enterprises and established corporates. 'Our focus is not just on capital, but on crowding in participants to build an ecosystem where innovation can thrive –enhancing Malaysia's economic competitiveness and resilience,' Khazanah's managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said in a statement yesterday. The VC firms were selected through a rigorous evaluation process focused on the funds' investment thesis, strength of core team, governance and alignment with strategic national development priorities. Jelawang Capital chairman Datuk Hisham Hamdan added: 'We began with a systems-driven approach to ecosystem building and, via the EMP and RFI, we are excited to support the next generation of Malaysian fund managers and deepen the pool of quality founders. 'In that respect, we are proud to work with this group of high calibre fund managers, while further crowding-in capital, talent, expertise and capabilities into this ecosystem. In shoring up this ecosystem, we look forward to working with like-minded partners and investors.' Jelawang Capital is a company under Dana Impak and will act as Malaysia's national fund-of-funds to strengthen the VC ecosystem with its allocation of RM1bil. Dana Impak plays a catalytic role in Khazanah's investment strategy, and works to catalyse the VC ecosystem, levelling up mid-tier companies and strengthening the country's position in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing. Khazanah and Jelawang Capital stated that Vynn Capital is a VC firm with a focus on the mobility and supply chain sectors across seed to Series A investment stages with a focus on the South-East Asia region. Kairous Capital's roots are in technology and has positioned itself as a cross-border specialist, supporting Malaysian startups in scaling into key South-East Asian markets, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. It can also facilitate regional growth for high-potential companies and the transfer of innovation and know-how from technologically advanced countries like China. First Move, meanwhile, is a founder-led VC firm backing pre-seed stage startups across South-East Asia. AppWorks is an early-stage VC from Taiwan that fuses an equity-free accelerator with founder-first capital to scale Greater South-East Asia's tech startups – and has a top-quartile distribution to paid-in capital track record. Its investment mandate is in artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital economy in South-East Asia. Granite Asia is a leading multi-stage investor focused on transformative opportunities across Asia, with a track record of building over 115 unicorns and achieving 61 initial public offerings globally. Its early-stage fund will back transformative startups across Asia in sectors like consumer tech, enterprise software, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and automation.
Business Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Malaysia's Khazanah picks Singapore, Taiwan VC firms to help fire up next wave of startups
[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has selected Singapore-based Granite Asia and Taiwan's AppWorks as the first of five venture capital (VC) firms under two strategic programmes to transform Malaysia into a regional venture capital hub. The announcement, made on Tuesday (Jun 24) by Khazanah and its wholly owned subsidiary Jelawang Capital, marks the first rollout of its Emerging Fund Managers' Programme (EMP) and the Regional Fund Managers' Initiative (RMI), which were launched last October. The five selected fund managers under EMP and RMI are expected to deploy over RM200 million (S$60.5 million), a significant portion of which will be channelled into Malaysia-Nexus companies, supporting around 50 early-stage firms, said Khazanah managing director Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir. 'Our hope is that these five managers will nurture the next wave of Malaysian startups, and that over time, these startups and those who fund them will become mentors, backers and anchors for the next generation,' he said at a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur. He added that the initiatives are part of Khazanah's broader goal to act as both 'catalyst and connector' through its Dana Impak impact-investment platform and Jelawang Capital. Khazanah, Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, managed US$36 billion in assets as at the end of 2024. Last October, it launched Jelawang Capital, a national fund-of-funds, designed to accelerate the growth of Malaysia's venture-capital sector through investments and partnerships with fund managers. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Granite Asia and AppWorks As RMI partners, Granite Asia and AppWorks will seek to draw foreign fund managers to Malaysia's startups, with the aim of building regional and global entities. It is hoped that this will encourage global companies to re-domicile in Malaysia, create jobs and attract top talents to its ecosystem. Granite Asia, formerly known as GGV Capital Asia, is a leading multi-stage investor focused on transformative opportunities across Asia; it has a track record of building over 115 unicorns and was behind 61 initial public offerings globally. The firm will back transformative startups in Malaysia through its early-stage fund, focusing on sectors such as consumer tech, enterprise software, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. In partnership with Khazanah and Jelawang Capital, Granite Asia will also offer local entrepreneurs access to its founder network and strategic programmes to help Malaysian startups to scale beyond the local market into the region and globally. AppWorks, a Taiwan-based early-stage VC, stands out for combining equity-free accelerator programmes with founder-centric capital deployment. It plans to roll out Malaysia-focused Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 startup cohorts, backed by local experts and its regional founder network. AppWorks' investment mandate includes artificial intelligence, blockchain and digital-economy startups across South-east Asia, with a track record of top-quartile returns. Local VC firms take centre stage Out of the first five VC firms, three Malaysian firms – Vynn Capital, Kairous Capital and First Move – were selected under the EMP. EMP is structured to support Malaysian fund managers in raising their first, second, or third fund with the goal of creating regionally competitive VC fund managers by strengthening fund governance, building track records and crowding-in capital. Kuala Lumpur-based Vynn Capital focuses on mobility and supply-chain startups from seed to Series A funding exercises across South-east Asia. Kairous Capital, which specialises in cross-border expansion, homes in on Malaysian tech startups looking to penetrate high-growth markets in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The firm also channels know-how from China to Malaysian ventures. First Move, is a founder-led firm backing pre-seed startups, often acting as the first institutional investor. It focuses on co-building startups with experienced operators and second-time founders. Building a regional VC powerhouse Malaysia's Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan, who also attended Tuesday's event to launch EMP and RMI, said one of the most important lessons from global innovation hubs is that thriving ecosystems do not come about by chance; they are intentionally cultivated. 'In Malaysia, we are laying the foundations for such an ecosystem, driven not just by capital, but by conviction. 'And we are beginning to see results. This month, Kuala Lumpur entered the Top 20 Emerging Startup Ecosystems globally – a first for Malaysia, and a testament to the power of coordinated ambition.' Jelawang Capital chairman Hisham Hamdan expects that, with the collaboration of this group of high-calibre fund managers, the country will be able to attract more capital, talent, expertise and capabilities into Malaysia's ecosystem. The EMP and RMI initiatives form a key pillar of the Malaysian Venture Capital Roadmap 2024-2030, which aims to make the country a preferred regional hub by the end of the decade. The programmes also support the Malaysian government's goal of unlocking RM1 billion in investments to fund high-growth entrepreneurs and attract institutional capital to early-stage companies.
