Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade is encouraging all business owners to apply today for the new Small Business Support Grant.
Vic Fedeli says the program helps those who have been forced to close their doors or reduce operations during COVID-19 shutdowns.
“This is above and beyond the NOHFC grants that Minister Rickford announced and closed before Christmas. You can have both. This is a brand new program that you can stack on top of anything else you’ve received.”
Fedeli says you must show your April 2019 financial’s and compare them to April 2020 when the first lockdown occured.
“If you’ve had a decline of at least 20% you’re immediately entitled to $10,000. That’s the low. Everybody that is entitled gets that. And then up to $20,000. So you need under 100 employees.”
Fedeli adds “There’s lots of other little guidelines. If your a brand new business, if you are a seasonal business, there’s all different dates for you. This is unbelievably user friendly.”
Fedeli says the program only opened on Friday and they’ve already received more than 15,000 applications as of noon Sunday.
The Nipissing MPP says they have committed $212 million for those 15,000 applicants.
Fedeli adds other grants and rebate programs are available for small businesses to help with electricity costs, property taxes, heating, natural gas and propane bills, Personal Protection Equipment purchases and rent.
Visit www.Ontario.ca/COVIDSupport to access the support the government has made available.
To hear more from Minister Vic Fedeli visit the Audio link below.
