In January 2021, applications will open for 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 effective December 26, 2020.

Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with dollar for dollar funding to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue expected as a result of the Provincewide Shutdown. The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 per cent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses. Other time periods are available for businesses that may not have been in operation in April 2019.

Businesses will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense for them. For example, some businesses will use the support to pay employee wages, while others will need support maintaining their inventory.

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 business 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).

For small businesses not in operation in April 2019 or April 2020, alternate time periods will be  announced in January 2021.

Further details about the grant, including how to apply, will be available in January 2021.

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