The Town of Renfrew is host to over 100 local businesses in its downtown core alone.
More businesses in Ontario are now able to apply for COVID-19 supports.
Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Victor Fedeli tells myFM that businesses with 2 to 19 employees can apply for a $1,000 grant to help offset the costs of purchasing personal protective equipment.
Fedeli says businesses can apply for rebates that will cover expenses such as heating and hydro.
He adds businesses can also apply $20,000 to help cover any loss of revenue.
The Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade says in the last month they’ve provided $770-million to 55,000 businesses in Ontario.
You can get more information and apply for funding online here.
Ontario’s Main Street Relief Grant: PPE support
We are helping small businesses with the unexpected costs of PPE. Eligible small businesses will get one-time grants of up to $1,000. To be eligible, your business must have 2 to 19 employees and be in one of the following sectors:
- retail
- accommodation and food services
- repair and maintenance
- personal and laundry services
- gyms and yoga studios
- arts, entertainment and recreation
Property tax and energy cost rebates
Businesses that are, or were, required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures can apply for rebates, provided in the form of grants, to help with their fixed costs.
Businesses struggling to pay their energy bills as a result of COVID-19 may also be eligible for the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB), which you can apply to through your utility provider.
Eligible businesses could get rebates for, municipal and education property taxes, energy costs, including electricity and natural gas (or where natural gas is not available, propane and heating oil). Funding will cover the entire length of time that regionally targeted public health restrictions are in place.
Most businesses can expect to receive their rebate payments within a few weeks of submitting a complete application.
Ontario Small Business Support Grant
Applications are open for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which helps small businesses that are required to close or significantly restrict services under the Provincewide Shutdown effective December 26, 2020. Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant provides businesses with funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown. Businesses will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense for them. For example, some businesses could use the support to pay employee wages, while others may need support maintaining their inventory.
The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 per cent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses.
New businesses established since April 2019 are also eligible provided they meet the other eligibility criteria.
