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By Regan Tate

New businesses can now apply for relaunch grant

Feb 4, 2021 | 9:22 AM

Medicine Hat, AB–New businesses that opened in the province between March and October of 2020 can now apply for COVID relief funding. The grant is also available to unregistered sole proprietors.

Doug Schweitzer, the Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation says approximately 10,000 new businesses opened across the province last year. “These new businesses were started by Albertans who had the entrepreneurial spirit and confidence to bet on Alberta”.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the relief money will assist new businesses who have largely been unable to access federal support programs. “With restrictions continuing and small businesses struggling, support programs will need to be extended and expanded in order to avoid widespread business closures across the province”, stated Annie Dormuth, Alberta provincial affairs director, Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that have faced restrictions or closures due to COVID-related public health orders, and have experienced revenue losses of at least 30 per cent.

Businesses are able to use the funding to offset costs they are facing when it comes to the relaunch. This could be PPE, cleaning supplies, rent, employee wages, or replacement of lost inventory. Businesses can also use the money to expand their online presence. These grants do not need to be repaid.

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The program launched at the end of June 2020, and the government has committed $500 million to the grants. More details are on the program web page. Application intake will be open until March 31, 2021, unless otherwise communicated.

Source: Alberta Government