The British Columbia provincial government is providing funding relief to small businesses that have been required to close their businesses due to recent lockdown measures. This relief comes as the Omicron variant has caused a rise in hospitalizations across the country.
“It’s fair to say that the Omicron variant has created new challenges for all of us, but our government’s commitment to support people and businesses through this latest COVID-19 wave is unwavering. While we are encouraged to see that many fitness activities will now be able to take place in a safe, controlled environment, we know there are still sectors directly impacted by these public health measures. Our government will continue to support these businesses, as we have in the past. Together, we can move closer to putting this pandemic behind us.”
– Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
The program is called the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, and it is designed to stimulate those impacted by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) orders by providing fully funded grants.
Funding Amount
For-profit businesses that qualify for this funding may receive up to $1,000 to $20,000 if they were required to close completely (those starting December 22, 2021 or have remained closed up to January 18, 2022) due to PHO orders.
Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible for the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Businesses must have been in operation since November 1, 2021;
- The business’s location must have been required to fully close in compliance with PHO orders on December 22, 2021, and/or January 19, 2022;
- Example businesses may be:
- Restaurants, bars, or nightclubs;
- Yoga studios or gyms offing indoor exercise; and
- Venues for events that were required to cancel shows.
For small businesses that are not eligible for this grant, there are more opportunities and resources available that may help. To learn more about this small business support, visit our start-up and entrepreneur resources page today.
Eligible Activities
Although the funding support from the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant is meant to provide support for a variety of activities, there are some guidelines to consider. The grant may be used to cover activities such as:
- Rent and utilities for the business,
- Insurance expenses,
- Maintenance expenses for the business, and
- Wages for business employees.
If your business is looking for further support, there are more programs available. Visit our government funding for Western Canada directory to see a comprehensive review of the top programs today.
Program Timeline
Applications for the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant will stay open until the end of February, or until all funding is committed.
Learn More About Government Funding Opportunities
Government funding for British Columbia is a strategic way for companies to leverage grants, loans, tax credits, and vouchers to improve their businesses. Common funding projects include business expansion, research & development, hiring & training, and capital & technology adoption.
To learn more about government funding opportunities, such as the Canada Small Business Financing Program, visit our government funding table which highlights the top programs in Canada. If you are interested in more government funding news like this, check out our government funding news page.
Mentor Works streamlines the government funding process through optimized processes and resources. We believe in each one of the applications that we support. Our detailed pre-qualification process leads to a higher rate of approval when compared to the global approval rates of each government funding program.