B.C. government adds funds to recovery grant program for small and medium B.C. businesses
The B.C. government has announced an infusion of millions of dollars in additional funding to help small and medium businesses stay afloat until step three of the province’s reopening plan.
Officials say the money will fund the Small- and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant until July 1.
“We built this grant program for the business community,” said Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, in a news release.
The government says the grant program has helped 10,000 B.C. businesses, with more than 41 per cent of the money going to tourism-related businesses.
“This additional support was a call to action from the Tourism Task Force to provide relief to people and businesses that were struggling,” said Melanie Mark, minister of tourism, in the same release.
Mark is encouraging tourism-related businesses to see if they’re eligible for the grant money.
The province says its business recovery grant program, combined with its circuit breaker fund, has committed $560 million to help B.C. businesses affected by the pandemic. The latter program closed to applications on Friday.
“The grant money I received not only benefits my business, it has a ripple effect on the community and makes people optimistic that the local economy is starting to rebuild,” said Leanna Carlson, a pottery store owner in Prince George, according to the government release.
Owners of businesses that employ up to 149 B.C. residents are eligible to apply for the small- and medium-sized business grant. Applications close on July 2.
Step three of the province’s reopening plan includes a return to normal indoor and outdoor personal gatherings, a resumption of indoor fitness classes and a return to Canada-wide travel for non-essential purposes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Kingston, Ont. tenants fed up with lack of action from landlord over broken floor tiles
Joel Felder and Misti Pitcher have been living in their apartment in Kingston, Ont. for over two years, but the past 12 months have been miserable.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Are you a loud snorer? You could have sleep apnea
You'll have a lot more energy throughout the day if you get a good night's sleep, but not everyone does due to a medical condition.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
North Korea informs Japan of a plan to launch military spy satellite
North Korea has told Japan it plans to launch a satellite by early next week, an apparent effort to put its second military spy satellite into orbit.