Most Convid-19 resources mentioned on our website will be found in our KMBIA Public drive. Some other resources are external and will be linked to our community partners accordingly.
ONTARIO PROGRAMS – Updated March 17th 2021
All programs and details for the current support programs can be accessed through the One-Window Portal to Small Business Supports at www.Ontario.ca/smallbusiness
Ontario’s Business Support Grant – The new Ontario Small Business Support Grant, which will help small businesses that are required to close or significantly restrict services under the new Provincewide Shutdown.
To receive the grant, a small business must:
– Be required to close or restrict services subject to the Provincewide Shutdown effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26, 2020
– Have fewer than 100 employees at the enterprise level
– Have experienced a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline comparing April 2020 to April 2019 revenues (or alternate time periods for businesses that were not in operation in April 2019).
Businesses that are not eligible include those that were already required to close prior to the introduction of modified Stage 2 measures, and essential businesses permitted to operate with capacity restrictions (e.g., discount and big box stores selling groceries, supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, and beer, wine and liquor stores).
Application
Guide
Ontario’s Main Street Recovery Grant – This grant provides a one-time reimbursement of up to $1,000 for PPE costs for eligible small businesses with two to nine employees, in the retail, food and accommodation sectors, and other service sectors like repair and maintenance, personal and laundry services, to help them cover PPE costs.
Ontario’s Energy & Property Tax Rebates – Businesses that were required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures (in areas with modified Stage 2 restrictions or categorized as control/red or lockdown/grey) can apply for rebates, provided in the form of grants, to cover municipal/education property taxes and energy costs (electricity/natural gas/propane/home heating oil).
Ontario’s COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program – a one time, on-bill credit to eligible small business and registered charity customers to help them catch up on their energy bills and resume regular payments. Small business and registered charity customers may be eligible for up to $850 in support towards their electricity bill if they primarily use electricity for heating, or up to $425 otherwise. Small business and registered charity customers could also be eligible for up to $425 in support towards their natural gas bill.
Ontario’s Digital Main Street Grant – provides Digital Transformation training and guidance and provides the opportunity for main street businesses to apply for a grant of up to $2,500 to help their business launch and expand online, supporting small business e-commerce growth.
Ontario’s Starter Company Plus Program – provides funding up to $5,000, one-on-one advice from a Small Business Advisor and 6 biweekly coaching sessions for businesses in their first 5 years in business. The program is accessed through the province’s 47 Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network locations.
Through Ontario’s One-Window Portal to Small Business Supports at www.Ontario.ca/smallbusiness, businesses may also access:
The Workplace PPE Supplier Directory, which provides businesses an up-to-date list of Ontario companies and business associations that are ready to supply personal protective equipment;
Local advice through Ontario’s Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Network where small businesses can access tailored advice on local, provincial and federal programs;
– Sector-specific resources to help prevent COVID-19 in the workplace
– Mental health and addictions supports;
– Government of Canada Small Business supports and resources;
The Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy program has been extended to June 2021, and includes changes to the rates and top-up calculations.
On December 18, 2020, the Federal Government raised the maximum wage subsidy rate to 75% for the period beginning Sunday December 20, 2020 until March 13, 2021.
The wage subsidy is also now more flexible and targeted, allowing employers to access the maximum subsidy rate based on a single month’s revenue decline instead of having to demonstrate three months’ decline, giving employers support that better reflects their current or evolving needs.
DIGITAL MAINSTREET
Free, tailored financial advice and online training to help businesses make informed financial decisions and navigate the unprecedented economic circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wage and Rent Subsidy Amounts to Remain Unchanged Through to June
On March 3, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, announced that the government intends to extend the current rate structures for these subsidies from March 14 to June 5, 2021.
Specifically:
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the maximum wage subsidy rate for active employees would remain at 75 per cent;
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the maximum rent subsidy rate would remain at 65 per cent; and
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Lockdown Support would remain at 25 per cent and continue to be provided in addition to the rent subsidy, providing eligible hard hit businesses with rent support of up to 90 per cent
Registration for the CafeTO Patio Program this summer opened as of Friday February 26 at 9 AM. CafeTO provides space for expanded outdoor dining areas to help restaurants and bars impacted by COVID-19.
To register for the program, you will need: 1) A City of Toronto East Establishment Licence number (starts with B71), 2) a complete certificate of insurance, 3) a City of Toronto Cafe Permit number (for existing cafes,s tarts with R57), 4) A Letter of Permission from the adjacent tenant and/or property owner (if you want to expand your cafe in front of an adjacent property)
The deadline to register is Friday March 26
Commercial – Industrial Façade and Property Improvement Program
The City’s Annual Façade Improvement Program is now open. Through the program, BIA members can receive financial assistance to redesign, renovate or restore commercial or industrial building façades to improve appearance, functionality, safety and accessibility.
Applications must include a minimum of three of the eligible façade, accessibility, and/or property improvements, as well as the estimated cost of the proposed improvements. Applications are due May 6 and should be submitted via e-mail to Michael.Saunders@toronto.ca
Small businesses can apply to receive funding for up to $5000 through the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF) to help offset the costs of opening safely or adopting digital technologies to move their business online.
Over $14 Million has been contributed by the Federal Government, RBC, and Canada United partners to support recovery efforts due to COVID-19. Over 2,000 small businesses have already received funding across the country. CUSBRF is now re-opening its application process to all small businesses for expenses incurred no earlier than March 15, 2020
Dates have been scheduled for eight De-escalation Training Sessions between February and March, sponsored by the Toronto BIA Office and co-facilitated by the Downtown Yonge BIA staff, and Mental Health Consultant, Rebecca Higgins.
The workshops will explore how to use supportive communication and de-escalation skills with individuals who may be street-involved or displaying agitated behaviours.
ShopHERE can help you set-up an online store for your small business for FREE. Funded by the federal and provincial governments and key corporate sponsors, they can help you build and launch an online store, and will train you in how to manage it, at no cost.
Beyond this free support, they will also help you register your domain for free, and provide you with a number of ad credits through their sponsors.
BEACON Online Therapy is available free of charge to support Ontario Business Owners’ mental health during COVID-19. The cost is 100% covered by the Ontario Government.
The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and financial institutions. It will help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future.
Applications for the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub are open until January 18, 2021. The Hub will conduct research on Black entrepreneurship in Canada and will help identify barriers to success and opportunities for growth. It will be led by not-for-profit Black-led community and business organizations in partnership with educational institutions.
Commercial businesses located in a Heritage Designated building are eligible to receive a rebate from the City of Toronto covering the costs of maintenance and conservation work associated with your heritage building.
Free LED Lighting Upgrades
The Toronto Association of BIAs (TABIA) is offering up to $2000 in free LED interior lighting upgrades to businesses. LED lighting upgrades can save you up to 20% on your electricity costs.
Please e-mail Nick Brown, TABIA’s Energy Manager, at nbrown@toronto-bia.com if you are interested in participating in this great opportunity. He will connect you with a program representative who will schedule a free lighting assessment to determine what lighting upgrades you are eligible for.