Available grants for businesses
COVID Closure Relief Grant
The COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant will provide fully funded grants to businesses that had to close due to the December 22, 2021 Provincial Health Officer (PHO) order. Businesses must meet the following requirements: The business has been in operation and registered in B.C. as of February 1, 2021 and The business had to fully close to comply with the December 22, 2021 PHO order. Learn More
Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund
The Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund responds to the Tourism Task Force’s recommendation to provide relief from fixed costs like property taxes, BC Hydro fees and Crown tenure and park permit fees. One-time grants to offset certain fixed costs are available for: Large accommodation providers and Tourism-based commercial recreation businesses operating on Crown land or in BC Parks. Learn more.
Tourism Relief Fund in Western Canada
The Tourism Relief Fund, administered by Canada’s regional development agencies and Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), supports tourism businesses and organizations adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. With a budget of $500 million over two years (ending March 31, 2023), including $50 million specifically dedicated to Indigenous tourism initiatives, and $15 million for national initiatives, this fund will position Canada to be a destination of choice when domestic and international travel is once again safe by: empowering tourism operators to create new or enhance existing tourism experiences and products to attract more local and domestic visitors; helping the sector reposition itself to welcome international visitors by offering the best Canadian tourism experiences we have to offer the world; empowering tourism operators to create new or enhance existing tourism experiences and products to attract more local and domestic visitors; helping the sector reposition itself to welcome international visitors by offering the best Canadian tourism experiences we have to offer the world. Learn more
Northern BC Tourism Resiliency Program
Do you run a tourism-related business? If so, be sure to register for the Northern BC Tourism Resiliency Program. As part of the program, you’ll be matched with a program advisor who can assess your needs and provide guidance on available relief programs for your business. They can also arrange one-on-one expert consultations (free of charge) in areas such as marketing, E-commerce, human resources, and accounting, among others. Learn more
Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative in Western Canada
Major festivals and events are key levers of economic activity in communities across the country. They attract international tourists, position Canada and its regions as destinations of choice, encourage investment in Canadian tourism assets and create jobs. The Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative supports major Canadian festivals and events that have been hit hard by the economic impacts of COVID-19 to adapt and enhance their activities as the economy recovers. With a national budget of $200 million over two years, the Initiative will ensure continued operations and maintain local jobs in surrounding communities. This initiative complements the $200 million investment that will be delivered by Canadian Heritage, to support local festivals and community cultural events, outdoor theatre performances, heritage celebrations, local museums, amateur sport events and more. Learn More
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy
The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations affected by COVID-19. The rent subsidy would be provided directly to tenants, while also providing support to property owners. The new rent subsidy would support businesses, charities and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19, 2020. Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020. A top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy. Learn More
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
Proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand access to lockdown program. The government has announced new proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand eligibility for wage and commercial rent support for businesses and other organizations under the Local Lockdown Program. These changes would: apply to claim periods 24 and 25 (December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022), allow those entities to qualify if they are subject to a capacity-limiting public health restriction of 50 per cent or more, reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent for those entities. Learn More
Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availablity Program (HASCAP) Guarantee
Open for application on February 1, 2021 Businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 can access guaranteed, low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs. These loans are for small and medium-sized businesses that have seen their revenues decrease by 50% or more as a result of COVID-19. Learn More
Job and Growth Fund
Supports organizations in future-proofing their business, building resiliency and preparing for growth. Eligible businesses with fewer than 500 full time employees may qualify for interest-free repayable contributions for up to 50% of eligible costs. Eligible not-for-profit organizations may qualify for non-repayable contributions for up to 90% of eligible costs. Indigenous-led organizations and businesses may qualify for up to 100% of eligible project costs. Learn more.
Indigenous Community Business Fund
The Indigenous Community Business Fund is providing $117 million in non-repayable financial contributions to help support First Nations, Inuit and Métis community-or collectively-owned businesses and microbusinesses whose revenues have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund supports the operation of the businesses as well as costs to support the adaptation, planning and reopening of a businesses. The fund seeks to provide support for businesses that do not qualify for other Government of Canada COVID-19 relief measures. It is intended to relieve financial pressure and allow these businesses and microbusinesses to strengthen operations and support their viability during the pandemic, with the goal of positioning them for recovery. Learn more
BC Métis COVID-19 Business Support Programs
The existing federal COVID-19 Emergency Response Loan is now offering more generous funding, with additional funds available for Métis financial institutions in BC. Métis-owned businesses are now eligible to apply for as much as $60,000 in COVID funding, including $40,000 in loans and $20,000 in grants. Métis businesses that have already received approval for as much as $40,000 in AFI-financed loans are now eligible to apply for a maximum additional $20,000 in top-up loans, with up to $10,000 provided as a grant. Learn More
There are other programs for Wage and Rent Support; Support for Business Sector & Community Groups; Taxes. LEARN MORE HERE for these other funding programs and the direct link to many of those listed above.
