By Josh Hall

Financial Aid

Province to grant businesses, non-profits up to $5,000 for reopening

Jun 28, 2020 | 3:23 PM

Beginning Monday at 10 a.m., small and medium-sized businesses, co-ops and non-profits in Alberta will be able to apply for funding to help them reopen their doors.

The Government of Alberta issued a release Sunday outlining how the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant will help those who’ve lost at least 50 per cent of revenue due to COVID-19.

Eligible job creators could receive up to $5,000 through the program.

The government says the money can be used to offset the costs of reopening, including implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as rent, employee wages and replacing inventory.

“Small and medium-sized businesses are job creators. They employ hundreds of thousands of Albertans and are the backbone of our economy. That’s why we are taking further action to support them as we relaunch our economy and get folks back to work,” says Tanya Fir, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism. “This builds on Alberta’s nation-leading support for job creators, and will help businesses, cooperatives and non-profits get Albertans working and our economy back on track.”

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Annie Dormuth, provincial affairs director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, adds, “We continue to hear from small businesses that although they are now fully open, it is not business as usual – with only 20 per cent making normal or better revenues for this time of year. This program will help small businesses in the economic relaunch phase who are struggling to pay for fixed costs such as rent and additional new costs like PPE.”

Alberta Chambers of Commerce president and CEO Ken Kobly also voiced support, saying the grant is very much appreciated and welcomed.

To be eligible for the $200 million program, organizations must have 500 or fewer employees.

Applications will be accepted June 29 at 10 a.m. through August 31, or for four weeks following the start of stage three of the province’s relaunch, whichever is later.

The province notes that during the first week of applications, a specific day of the week will be designated to each region. This is in order to manage an expected high volume of applications. Anyone can apply starting July 4.

The designated days are June 29 (north), June 30 (south), July 1 (urban), July 2 (Calgary), and July 3 (Edmonton). Red Deer falls under urban, while the surrounding region is considered south, according to government documents.

More on the program guidelines is here.

Premier Jason Kenney said on Friday that his government would be sharing its blueprint for economic reboot on Monday.