By Troy Gillard

Grant program expanded, increased

Alberta announces additional support for businesses impacted by new COVID-19 restrictions

Dec 8, 2020 | 5:13 PM

EDMONTON – The provincial government is expanding its relaunch grant to help small and medium-sized job creators impacted by new COVID-19 restrictions announced Tuesday.

The province is expanding and increasing the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. With a new lower threshold and increased grant amount, government officials say up to 15,000 more businesses may be eligible for funding.

In November, the government announced that Alberta businesses impacted by recent public health orders were eligible to apply for a second payment through the program. This second payment will now be 15 per cent of pre-pandemic monthly revenues up to a maximum of $15,000 – for a total of $20,000 in potential funding available for each business, up from the original $5,000.

This second payment is available to businesses operating in areas on the provincial watch list where new health restrictions have been implemented. Applications for the second payment in areas under enhanced measures will open this month.

Additionally, the program is now expanding to include job creators who have experienced a 30 per cent revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This lowers the threshold from the existing requirement of 40 per cent revenue loss. The 30 per cent threshold will be available to impacted businesses retroactive to March.

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“Our small businesses need additional supports, and they need them today – that’s why we’re taking action now to increase the funding available to our local job creators,” said Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. “We’ve tripled our support to get job creators the help they need so we can come out of this pandemic stronger than before. Alberta’s government is here for our small businesses while we protect the lives and livelihoods of all Albertans.”

The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that faced restrictions or closures from public health orders.

Job creators that meet the program’s eligibility criteria can apply for 15 per cent of their pre-COVID-19 monthly revenue up to a maximum of $20,000 since the program launched.

Businesses can use the funding however they choose to offset the costs they must face as a result of the pandemic restrictions. This includes the costs of implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including PPE and cleaning supplies, as well as rent, employee wages, or replacing inventory. The funds can also be used to help businesses expand their online presence or e-commerce opportunities so that they can continue to serve customers.

The program launched at the end of June with a budget of up to $200 million and was later increased to $500 million.

More program details, including updated eligibility criteria and how to apply for the second payment, will be outlined on the program web page when finalized.

Applications will be open until March 31, 2021, unless otherwise communicated.

(With file from Government of Alberta media release)