Government Support and Funding

This is a gathering of the latest COVID-19 government and non-governmental funding supports that are available to support your business.

COVID-19 is a challenge for businesses of all sizes. There are numerous funding and financial support programs from the Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments, as well as non-government organizations.  

 If you have questions about programs that your business can qualify for,
please contact us. 

Government of Canada is taking immediate action to support businesses, self-employed, indigenous businesses, not-for-profits, sectors, and other organizations helping Canadians. As programs are changing regularly, please check Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan for the most up to date information.

Business Benefits Finder - Find the right programs and services, whether you're starting out, or scaling up. Answer a few questions to get a tailored list. 

Major federal COVID-19 relief programs for businesses include:

For avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees, and creating new jobs

  • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) – covers 75% of an employee’s wages for eligible employers. CEWS has been extended up to June 2021.
  • Work-Sharing (WS) program has been extended from 38 weeks to a maximum of 76 weeks for employers affected by COVID-19. WS helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in business activity.

Financial support and access to credit

  • Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) - interest-free, partially forgivable, loans of up to $60,000, to small businesses and not-for-profits, that have experienced diminished revenues due to COVID-19 but face ongoing non-deferrable costs.
  • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) - provides a direct and easy-to-access rent and mortgage subsidy of up to 65% of eligible expenses to qualifying businesses, charities and non-profits.
  • Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises - Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Export Development Canada (EDC) is working with financial institutions to guarantee 80% of new operating credit and cash flow term loans of up to $6.25 million to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises - Through the Business Credit Availability Program, Business Development Canada (BDC) is working with financial institutions to co-lend term loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.
  • Canada United Small Business Relief Fund - The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund provides relief grants of up to $5,000 to small businesses. The grant can be used for specific efforts: purchasing PPE, renovating physical spaces, or developing your website or e-commerce capabilities.
  • Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund - The Government of Canada is supporting Black business owners and entrepreneurs through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund that will provide loans of between $25,000 and $250,000.
  • Mid-Market Financing Program - Through the Business Credit Availability Program, the Business Development Canada's (BDC) Mid-Market Financing Program will provide commercial loans ranging between $12.5 million and $60 million to medium-sized businesses whose credit needs exceed what is already available through the Business Credit Availability Program and other measures.BDC anticipates that qualifying companies will have annual revenues in excess of approximately $100 million.
  • Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program -Through the Business Credit Availability Program, EDC’s Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program will bring liquidity to companies who tend to have revenues of between $50 million to $300 million, to sustain operations during this uncertain period. EDC will continue to work with Canadian financial institutions to guarantee 75 % of new operating credit and cash-flow loans – ranging in size from $16.75 million to a maximum of $80 million. These expanded guarantees are available to exporters, international investors and businesses that sell their products or services within Canada.
  • Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP) Guarantee-Some businesses, such as those in tourism and hospitality, have been more heavily impacted as a result of COVID-19 and are struggling more than others to access financing. This is why BDC will provide 100% guarantees of up to $1 million to help qualifying businesses finance day-to-day business operating costs.
  • Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) – RRRF is specifically for those unable to access other support measures and provides over $1.5 billion to businesses and organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, tourism and others.
  • Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF) – provides relief grants of up to $5000 to small businesses for purchasing PPE, renovating physical spaces, or adopting digital technologies.
  • Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) – financial support to Canada’s largest employers whose financial needs are not met through conventional financing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional Support by Sector

Announcements and Information 

Guides and Calculators

Learn about Ontario Government programs and available guidance to employers and financial relief support in Ontario: COVID-19 Help for businesses in Ontario

Major Provincial Relief Programs for businesses

  • Ontario Small Business Support Grant– enables small businesses to recover some of their expected lost revenue due to January 2021 Provincewide Shutdown with a one-time grant ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. On March 24, the government announced a second round of support through the Ontario Small Business Support Grant. Small businesses who have been determined as eligible recipients for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant will automatically be entitled to a second payment in an amount equal to the first payment they receive. They will not need to apply again to receive this additional funding. On April 1, the government announced an extension to the application deadline to April 7. Businesses are urged to apply and applications can take as little as 15 minutes.
  • Ontario’s Main Street Relief Grant: PPE Support – provides one-time grants of up to $1,000 to small businesses in retail, accommodation & food services, repair & maintenance, personal & laundry services, and gyms & yoga studios.
  • Property Tax and Energy Cost rebates are available for businesses affected by the Provincewide Shutdown in Covid-19 response framework, as well for those affected by “modified stage 2” restrictions in the previous framework.
  • COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program for Small Business (CEAP-SB) – provides one time, on bill, credit to eligible small businesses and registered charity customers to help them with energy bills. Note that the CEAP-SB funding is limited, and a completed application does not guarantee the funding approval.
  • Take your business online with Digital Main St. – learn about selling online right away, developing a digital transformation plan, and accessing grants for digitalizing your business.
  • Central Counties Tourism – COVID-19 industry resources and opportunities
  • Central Counties Tourism PPE Reimbursement Program - Private and not-for-profit businesses in the hospitality and recreation sector are eligible for matched funding of 50% up to a maximum of $1,000 per applicant ($2,000 total expense). Eligible expenses include plexiglass, sanitizing stations, masks, stickers, etc., that you needed to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 by keeping your staff and guests safe. Learn more or apply.
  • Central Counties Tourism Business Support Program - Private and not-for-profit businesses in the hospitality and recreation sector are eligible for up to a 50% reimbursement on eligible paid expenses. Eligible costs include the implementation of health and safety protocols, alterations to accommodate social distancing, the purchase of PPE and cleaning supplies for workers, marketing, and the acquisition and implementation of digital tools and operating transformations. Learn more or apply.
  • Achievement Incentive Grant Program - employers in Ontario who train apprentices may be eligible for grants to help mitigate the cost of training.

Announcements and Information 

Business Resources

Regional Municipality of Durham

Municipal Support 

Town of Whitby

Financial assistance:

  • Extending advertising and sponsorship contracts at Whitby facilities during closures
  • Temporarily cancelling payment for leases within Town facilities that are closed

Operational assistance includes:

  • Temporarily eliminating parking payment requirements at all metered, on-street locations and municipal parking lots (time limits still apply)
  • Suspending invoicing related to advertising and sponsorship while Town facilities are closed
  • Allowing businesses to receive deliveries at any time of day through the temporary dismissal of the noise bylaw enforcement provisions related to commercial loading and deliveries

Municipality of Clarington

COVID-19 Community Improvement Plan (CIP): Provides support to qualifying businesses to make physical modifications to enable them to reopen safely. The CIP will provide grant funding for various safety measures, including plexiglass barriers to protect staff and customers, signage to encourage spacing, and realignment of displays and work areas to allow for distancing.

  • For completed projects, application deadline is 11 February 2021
  • For proposed projects that have not yet started, there is no application deadline

All Local Area Municipality Information

Check out Durham Region’s municipalities for information and updates on COVID-19 response, local programs and any available financial relief

As part of a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario, Digital Main Street has announced three new programs to support businesses across Ontario. These programs are available to Durham Region businesses that meet program requirements.

DMS ShopHERE: a program that provides independent small businesses and artists with a quick, easy and no-cost way to get selling online right away.

DMS Ontario Grants: a program providing main street businesses with $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants.

DMS Future Proof: a program that helps businesses identify new markets, pivot their business model, and develop and implement a deep digital transformation plan.

Learn more.

Access to credit through Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

  • EDC Loan Guarantee for SMEs:
    • Guarantees 80% of new operating credit and cash flow loans of up to $6.25 million to SMEs.
    • This financing is available for both exporting and non-exporting companies until June 2021.
  • BDC Co-Lending Program for SMEs:
    • Co-lend term loans between $1 million to $12.5 million to SMEs for their operational cash flow requirements.
    • This financing is based on business revenues and is available until June 2021.
  • BDC Mid-Market Financing Program:
    • Commercial loans ranging between $12.5 million to $60 million for medium-sized enterprises impacted by COVID-19 and/or by recent decline in oil and gas prices.
    • These loans are provided jointly by BDC and your primary financial institution and is available until or before June 2021.
  • EDC Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program:
    • EDC will continue to work with Canadian financial institutions to guarantee 75% of new operating credit and cash-flow loans – ranging in size from $16.75 million to a maximum of $80 million.
    • Your business does not need to have export sales to qualify for this program.

Support from Business Development Canada (BDC)

For businesses in operation for less than 12 months:

  • Futurpreneur Canada, together with BDC, offers entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 loans up to $60,000 including business advisory and resources. Loan is provided in unequal contributions by Futurpreneur Canada and BDC at different terms and fees.

For businesses in operation for at least 12 months and generating revenues:

  • BDC Start-up financing: Up to $250,000 financing is available to start-ups for purchasing assets, pay fees, or buy franchises. Principal payments on this loan can be postponed by up to 12 months at the start of the loan.

For businesses in operation for at least 24 months and generating revenues:

Support from Export Development Canada (EDC)

Central Counties Tourism PPE Reimbursement Program

Central Counties Tourism Business Support Program

  • Business Support Program for private and not-for-profit businesses in the hospitality and recreation sector.
  • Central Counties will reimburse up to 50% of eligible paid expenses (to a maximum of
    $15,000) incurred beginning April 1, 2020.
  • Learn more about eligibility or submit an application here.

To find other grants and funding programs, and to get a personalized list of support available for your business, check out Innovation Canada's online search tool.

 

 

FedDev Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) – Not-for-Profit COVID-19 Support

If your organization hasn’t been able to secure funding through existing COVID-19 programs, you can get financial support from your local Regional Development Agency

Local Food Infrastructure Fund

  • Funding for not-for-profits to improve and promote their environmentally sustainable food systems through investments in infrastructure
  • Funding ranges from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $250,000
  • Applications closing on December 31, 2023
  • Check details and eligibility requirements

Infrastructure Ontario Infrastructure Lending

  • Capital loans are available for eligible not-for-profit organizations to renovate buildings, buy land, or fix equipment to deliver value to customers and residents
  • Covers Social Services, Community Health, Housing, Long-term care, and more
  • Check details and eligibility requirements

To know more about funding and support available, and to get a customized list of support available for Not-for-Profits, check out Canada’s Business Benefit Finder tool

Review current funding opportunities specific to not-for-profits by visiting the Durham Immigration Portal funding opportunities update.

 

 

 

 

Banking

All major banks in Canada, including Bank of Montreal, CIBC, National Bank of Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Bank have made a commitment to work with personal and small business banking customers on a case-by-case basis to provide flexible solutions to help them manage through challenges. Please get in touch with your bank and check their websites to know more.

Also, see information on comprehensive relief programs offered by banks in Canada from Canadian Bankers Association

Utilities

Mortgage 

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