BUSINESSES can now apply for the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, a new program the Province has fast-tracked to support B.C. businesses ordered to temporarily close their doors due to recent public-health measures.
“This is not the way any of us wanted to start the new year with more strain on our businesses, families and communities,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, on Wednesday. “Our government will be there to help hard-hit businesses that have had to shut down and get them some necessary support to help pay their bills. We can get through this together as quickly as possible by going back to the basics – bringing back our COVID-19 safety plans for all businesses, recommitting to our daily health checks and continuing to follow all public-health measures.”
Businesses that were ordered to fully close on December 22, 2021, including bars, nightclubs and lounges that do not serve full meals, gyms, fitness and adult dance centres and event venues that can no longer hold events, can apply for relief grants of between $1,000 and $10,000. Funds from the program, which is expected to support more than 3,000 businesses, can help with expenses such as rent, employee wages, insurance, maintenance and utilities.
“There is no denying these are extremely challenging times for our industry,” said Sara Hodson, President, Fitness Industry Council of Canada. “Supports like the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant are very welcome at this time as many B.C. business owners need all of the financial supports available to us. The fitness and health industry has been committed to doing everything we can to keep people healthy and safe throughout this pandemic. We look forward to reopening and being able to once again provide the essential physical and health benefits of exercise to all British Columbians.”
The total grant amount per business will be based on the number of employees and follows a formula similar to the previous Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant that supported businesses in the spring of 2021.
To apply for a grant, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/business-relief
This $10-million provincial program complements existing federal government programs, including the recently expanded Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit.
The Local Lockdown Program provides wage and commercial rent support for businesses and other organizations, regardless of their sector, that have been affected by regional provincial health officer orders. This program is a way businesses, charities and non-profit organizations can be eligible for up to 75% of wage and rent support. The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit provides $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health order and who have lost 50% or more of their income.
“B.C. businesses have remained resilient throughout the pandemic and have adapted in more ways than one to keep people safe and healthy,” Kahlon said. “I continue to urge everyone to support local businesses where you can, and know that our business community needs us, as we need it. Let’s work together, and we will get through this once again.”
On January 7, B.C.’s public health officer ordered all businesses to reactivate their COVID-19 safety plans to help keep employees and communities safe during the rapid spread of cases related to the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
Learn More:
For more information on the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, including the application process and eligibility, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/business-relief
For more information on COVID-19 safety plans, visit: https://worksafebc.com/covid-
For more information on B.C.’s COVID-19 recovery supports, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/
For more information on federal supports, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/
BACKGROUNDER
Business relief grant eligibility criteria, pay structure
To be eligible for the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, a business is required to:
* confirm it has been fully closed by the provincial health officer’s recent orders;
* confirm that it was registered with BC Registries before November 1, 2021;
* produce up-to-date business validation documents (2020 or newer), such as a municipal business licence, liquor and/or food primary licence, notice of assessment, insurance policy, statement of business registration or lease agreement;
* confirm majority ownership and operations and payment of taxes in B.C.; and
* confirm that the business has been following and will continue to follow all public-health orders and guidelines.
Businesses that offer online rentals or online services, but their physical location is fully closed, are eligible to apply.
New applicants will need to provide direct-deposit information. This will not be needed if the business was approved for the Circuit Breaker Business Relief or the Small- and Medium-Sized Business Recovery grants, and banking information is the same.
Eligible businesses that closed as a result of the provincial health officer orders will receive funding based on number of staff at the time of closure. The breakdown is as follows:
* Businesses with no employees or contracted staff: $1,000
* One to four employees or contracted staff: $2,000
* Five to 99 employees or contracted staff: $5,000
* 100 or more employees or contracted staff: $10,000.
Applications will be accepted from January 12, 2022, at 10 a.m. (Pacific time) to February 28, 2022.
