Complete the Business Restart Survey by calling the NEW telephone hotline, powered by FortisBC 1-888-772-4667
Thank you for taking a brief moment to complete this important survey with questions geared towards business reopening.
The survey results will not be shared in any individual manner – all data will be released in aggregate format. In other words no business or individual name will be released. The only time a business or individual name is provided will be if they want their local economic development office to contact them.
The information will be used by local municipalities as an information resource only – it can help them to better provide information and support to their business community overall, it can be used for them to develop specific programs to assist their businesses, etc. For example, if results come back regarding a significant increase in labour needs, the EDO can ensure they are putting in programs around that.
BCEDA can use the aggregate information to support any requests to provincial or federal governments and other organizations. BCEDA would use the information to develop programs or education, etc., that will be of value to BC's communities.
Small Business Grants Program
We know that your business may be experiencing disruptions resulting from the global outbreak of COVID-19. We’ve heard that a little financial support can go a long way, so we’re offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help during this challenging time.
How the Program Can Help:
Keep your workforce going strong
Help with rent and operational costs
Connect with more customers
Support your community
Is my Business Eligible?
Up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries will be able to receive a grant from Facebook. To be eligible to apply, your business must:
Have between 2 and 50 employees
Have been in business for over a year
Have experienced challenges from COVID-19
Be in or near a location where Facebook operates
Businesses in all eligible cities can submit their applications between May 26th at 9am EDT and June 2nd at 11:59pm EDT.
Eligible BC Communities:
Anmore, Barnston Island, Belcarra, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Burrard Inlet, Capilano, Coquitlam, Delta, Greater Vancouver, Vancouver, Katzie, Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, Matsqui, McMillan Island, Mission, Musqueam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Semiahmoo, Seymour Creek, Surrey, Tsawwassen, Vancouver, West Vancouver, White Rock, Whonnock
The Business Resilience Service (BRS) allows you to connect with experienced business advisors from across Canada for guidance on which government relief programs will be most appropriate to support your small- to medium-sized business, not-for-profit or charity on how to respond and reshape amid uncertainty.
The program, delivered to your organization free of charge, provides:
Guidance on COVID-19 financial support program options and eligibility
Direction on accessing the most appropriate support organizations
Help to make decisions to support recovery plans
Real time insights and feedback to policymakers
To access the BRS call 1-866-989-1080 to connect with a business advisor from the accounting profession. The service is available 7 days/week from 8am – 8pm ET (5am – 5pm PT).
The BRS is run through the Canadian Chamber’s Canadian Business Resilience Network in collaboration with EY and with support from Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), and Imagine Canada. The program, coordinated by EY, will be provided for four weeks from Monday, May 25, and involves support from approximately 125 business advisors from across the accounting profession.
Small businesses are the heart of our communities and the backbone of Canada’s economy. Canadians everywhere have been supporting local businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, from ordering take-out to buying gift cards. Civic-minded organizations with the resources and means are also pitching in.
As part of its Canadian Business Resilience Network campaign, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, through the generosity of Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), will provide 62 small Canadian businesses from coast to coast to coast with $10,000 grants to help their recovery efforts during these unprecedented times.
Why do this? The CBRN Small Business Relief Fund will help 62 small Canadian businesses recover and support their resilience, for a total of $620,000 in funds.
Businesses can use the $10,000 grants to support their recovery efforts, including paying salaries, acquiring safety and personal protective equipment for staff, replenishing materials or paying for the measures required to adapt business models to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
During the COVID-19 crisis, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to help as many businesses as possible stay afloat and remain open. Small business owners put everything they have into their businesses, and these grants will help give a little bit back. Good people coming together is how Canadians have managed this crisis, and the Canadian Chamber and Salesforce are following their lead, one business at a time.
Key eligibility criteria To be eligible to apply, businesses must:
1. Be a for-profit company; and, 2. Have between 2 and 50 employees; and, 3. Have been in business for two years as of March 1, 2020; and, 4. Have an annual revenue between $150,000 CAD and $5,000,000 CAD; and, 5. Have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; and 6. Meet the other eligibility criteria set out in the program’s terms and conditions.
The program’s terms and conditions and its privacy policy will be posted on June 1.
How to apply?
You will be able to apply for a grant for your business from June 1 until June 12.
Your application should demonstrate how being a grant recipient would help your business recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and support its resilience. Our assessment will be based on your proposal and expected outcome.
The successful applicants will be announced in late June to early July 2020, with the funds being transferred to the successful applicants shortly thereafter.
Province supports tourism marketing organizations to be ready for recovery
Fifty-nine B.C. community destination marketing organizations (DMOs) severely impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions will be supported with a $10-million grant from the Province.
B.C.’s community DMOs are not-for-profit organizations that promote tourism to their regions. They rely on funds generated by the municipal and regional district tax (MRDT), which is charged to visitors by hotels and other types of accommodation. Without this relief funding, community DMOs would be unable to operate and support economic recovery efforts in the tourism sector.
“The tourism industry is a major economic engine and job creator for people in B.C., but the impacts of COVID 19 have left the industry struggling,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “We are supporting the tourism industry today to make sure we can welcome visitors to explore Super, Natural British Columbia when it is safe to do so.”
Community DMOs play an important role connecting visitors to B.C.’s communities, representing both large metropolitan centres and towns of a few hundred residents. Investments in the tourism sector’s recovery now will help create jobs and spur economic growth throughout the province.
“As we look onwards to reopening and restarting the visitor economy, community DMOs are well placed to create effective marketing and development campaigns that will drive visitors to their communities across our beautiful province,” said Nancy Small, chair, BC Destination Marketing Organization Association. “This welcomed funding announcement will give many of us that ability to remain operating and plan for the future. It is excellent news.”
This funding will help MRDT-supported community DMOs retain crucial staff positions and offset fixed expenses from May to October 2020.
“Destination BC is eager to support our community partners on tourism’s road to recovery,” said Marsha Walden, president and CEO, Destination BC. “From marketing, to destination development and industry learning, we’re here to help restart the tourism industry as we slowly begin opening our doors again.”
Support Local BC provides a place for communities and businesses throughout the province to support each other. It connects all regions and is a platform where you can show your love for your favourite local businesses by purchasing gift cards for future use.You can choose businesses in your own community or you can purchase gift cards from other communities to give a family member or friend. Businesses receive the full value of the gift cards purchased
This is such an excellent way to support your local businesses and provide them with some extra cash flow during these tough times. This growing initiative is made possible by partners Vancity, Think Local First, LOCO BC, BCEDA, Love Northern BC and FortisBC.
