Starting in mid-April, the Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit will provide funding to eligible small and medium businesses most affected by the pandemic and ongoing public health restrictions. Payments will be calculated based on 15% of the eligible business’s monthly revenue, up to a maximum of $10,000. Businesses can use these funds as they see fit to help offset the costs of re-opening, and implementing public health measures including:

•             physical barriers

•             purchasing personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies

•             paying rent and employee wages

•             replacing inventory

•             expanding online business or e-commerce opportunities

*** Important timeline information: Payments under the Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit will be available in April 2021 following the conclusion of the current Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant (SMERG) program that closes March 31.

•             Organizations eligible for the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant can apply for funding through this program until March 31.

•             Detailed information on program parameters will be included in the program guidelines closer to the launch date in April.

•             Money received under this program does not need to be repaid.

To be eligible for the Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit, applicants must:

•             be a businesses, cooperative or non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees

•             demonstrate a revenue reduction of at least 60%

•             report the levels of provincial and federal support received, to ensure no more than 80% of revenue was covered by these support