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By Shaun Penner

Small and Medium Businesses

Province puts another $350M in pandemic relief for small businesses

Apr 13, 2021 | 11:41 AM

The Alberta government is making another $350 million available to help small and mid-sized businesses that have seen revenues decline by at least 30 per cent because of public health restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those businesses will be eligible to receive up to $10,000, starting next week.

Premier Jason Kenney and Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer announced this morning the province is relaunching the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant (SMERG) program. SMERG was launched last summer in response to the pandemic and eligibility was expanded in January. The program ended in March.

“Small businesses have borne the brunt of pandemic restrictions, and have made real sacrifices to protect our health-care system and save lives” said Kenney. “That’s why Alberta’s government has already committed over $500 million in support through the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant, and it’s why we are expanding that support today.”

The first two phases of SMERG paid out grants of up to $20,000 to eligible businesses that recorded a revenue drop of 30 per cent or more.

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The province adds the relaunch grant program has already had nearly 50,000 applicants to date. With this latest expansion, small businesses that have qualified for all three rounds will have received as much as $30,000.

“Today’s announcement is welcome news. It is vital for small business survival that proper supports are in place until the economy can fully reopen,” said Annie Dormuth, Alberta provincial affairs director, Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

SMERG offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, and organizations with fewer than 500 employees that have seen their revenues drop by at least 30 per cent during the pandemic.