COVID-19

The Leeds Grenville Economic Development Office is receiving information on the impact of COVID-19 on business and our region from various sources. We will continue to populate this page as additional business information, surveys, resources and programs become available. See other News, Health and Public Notices for Leeds Grenville.

Please ensure your business information is up to date in our business directory and/or tourism directory.

Our office, along with the region's CFDC's, Small Business Centres, Employment Centres, Chambers of Commerce, Business Improvement Associations and more are here to help you, during the pandemic and always.

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Ontario Government Survey - Economic impacts of COVID-19
Share the impact coronavirus outbreak is having on your business and your community. Closing date: June 12, 2020.

Health and Safety

Financial Support

Government of Canada

Online tool for financial help during COVID-19

Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)

Provides emergency funding to support large Canadian enterprises facing financial challenges due to COVID-19.
Open to Canadian employers who have a significant impact on Canada’s economy, demonstrates approximately $300 million or more in annual sales and requires minimum loan of $60 million.
For information and application visit their webpage.

Canada Emergency Rent Assistance

Forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners that has a small business tenant that is experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19
Application period is now open
Additional program details and eligibility guidelines are available on the CMHC webpage

Addressing Labour Supply and Training Challenges for Agri-Food and Agri-product sectors

Governments of Canada and Ontario provide support for the recruitment and training of workers connected to the primary agriculture, food processing companies and grocery retail to keep the essential food supply chain functioning
Funding is available for up to 90 per cent of eligible costs.
View additional information and eligibility requirements.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Provides financial support of $500 per week for up to 16 weeks

Some eligibility requirements include: Canadians who are 15 years old, that lost their job, have had their hours reduced, have had their EI recently run out, are seasonal workers, area sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parent who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closure; who had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or 12 months prior to application; who did not quit their job voluntarily; you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days with a 4-week benefit period of your claim

For more information
Application period is now open, apply for CERB through either Service Canada or CRA, but not both.

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

Government of Canada interest-free loans of up to $40,000 at 0% interest to small business and not-for-profits, to help cover operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced due to COVID-19.
Repaying balance of loan on or before December 31, 2022 will result in loan forgiveness of 25% (up to $10,000).

Some of the eligibility requirements include: Employment income paid in 2019 was between $20,000 - $1,500,000 Canadian, active business chequing / operating account with lender prior to March 1, 2020 and not in arrears 90 days prior

For more information.
Main Financial Institutions:

EDC Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

EDC guarantees a new one-year term or operating line of credit for 80% of its value, up to $6.25M allowing businesses to deal with payroll and operating cost issues and enabling their financial institution to take on less risk. Available for all Canadian companies, including non-exporting businesses that sell domestically.
Apply now.

BDC Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium Enterprises

Provides term loans for operational and liquidity needs to businesses, which could include interest payments on existing debt. Available to businesses that were financially viable and revenue generating prior to COVID-19.
In partnership with your financial institution, businesses may obtain incremental credit amounts up to $6.25 M, 80% of which would be provided by BDC, with the remaining 20% by the financial institution.
Details are being finalized and will be available shortly from your primary financial institution.
Learn more.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy - 75 % (CEWS)

Government of Canada will provide a 75% wage subsidy, up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week, for up to 12 weeks of employees’ salaries from March 15 to June 6, 2020 for eligible employers.
Some eligibility requirements include: business, charitable or not-for-profit organizations have experienced at least a 15% decline in revenue in March 2020 and a 30% decline in revenue in April and/or May 2020, when compared to the same month in 2019.
Online application portal open. Employers encouraged to use the CRA’s CEW calculator to determine the amount of subsidy. More information

Canada 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy

Employers may be eligible for a 10% wage subsidy for a three-month measure that will allow eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to Canada Revenue Agency. From March 18 to June 19, 2020, up to $1,375 for each eligible employee to a maximum of $25,000 total per employer. Any benefit from the 10% wage subsidy for remuneration paid generally reduces the amount available to be claimed under CEWS in that same period.
Frequently Asked Questions

Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program - Producers

Governments of Canada and Ontario helping agri-food businesses with new and immediate health and safety directly related to COVID-19 impact.
Category 1: Occupational Health and Safety Measures
- Incremental expense specifically required to modify agricultural operation to ensure social distancing; acquire personal protective equipment; cleaning and disinfection for operation and on-farm housing for workers
Category 2: Enhancing Healthy Workforce Access and Accommodation
- Activities to support worker accommodations, work-site mobility and transportation and short-term accommodation to address new and immediate health and safety issues that directly responds to an on-farm COVID-19 outbreak
- Some eligible expenses are short-term accommodation to enable social distancing
- 70 per cent, up to a maximum of $7,500 per project
70 per cent, up to a maximum of $7,500 per project
Eligible expenses incurred on or after May 14, 2020 and implemented and completed by November 30, 2020
For additional information and requirements, see webpage

Agri-Food Open for e-Business

Application period is paused at this time.
Government of Canada and Ontario are supporting the agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors for online e-business opportunities that will help create new, expanded or enhanced markets and open the new retails channels.
Funding Stream 1: Bring Your Business Online – grant of up to $5,000 to establish an online e-business and marketing presence quickly.
Funding Stream 2: Develop Online Business Opportunities – funding available for up to 90 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $75,000 to develop and implement high-impact online e-business opportunities on a larger scale.

Employment Insurance (EI)

Government of Canada program designed to provide temporary financial support to workers who have lost their job, are sick, pregnant, caring for a newborn or adopted child, caring for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death or providing care or support to critically ill family member. If you have recently applied for EI regular or sickness benefits, do no re-apply. Your application will automatically be assessed to determine your CERB eligibility
For more information on Employment Insurance benefits and leave.

Work-Sharing Program

Government of Canada program designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity. Provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporary reduced work week while their employer recovers. It’s a three-party agreement with employer, employees and Service Canada.
Maximum length of a working sharing agreement has extended from 38 weeks to 76 weeks due to COVID-19
Information on eligibility and application.

Regional Relief and Recovery Fund

FedDev Ontario is delivering $252.4 million in funding. $213 million for SMEs facing financial pressure, and $39.4 million through the Community Futures Development Corporations

There are two funding streams, can only apply to one.

Option 1 CFDC – 1000 Islands, Grenville, Valley Heartland
- Up to a $40,000 conditionally repayable contribution (interest-free loan, 25 percent forgiveness available provided 75% of the original loan amount is paid by December 31, 2022).
- Details and applications to be released shortly, Leeds Grenville businesses encouraged to connect with your local CFDC first. CFDC funding priorities will include sole proprietors and “main street” businesses i.e. retail shops and restaurants
Option 2 - FedDev Ontario
- Up to a $40,000 conditionally repayable contribution (interest-free loan, 25 percent forgiveness available provided 75% of the original loan amount is paid by December 31, 2022).
- Up to a $500,000 unconditionally repayable contribution (interest-free loan, fully repayable). For more information visit FedDev Ontario.

Farm Credit Canada Covid-19 Support Program

Payment deferrals and credit line program provides additional lending capacity to producers, agribusinesses and food processors.
Deferral of principal and interest payment up to 6 months or a deferral of principal payments up to 12 months for existing loan as well as access to an additional credit line of up to $500,000, secured by general security agreements.
For additional information contact your local FCC office and visit COVID-19 support program website.

Tax & WSIB Relief

Income Tax filing and payment dates: CRA and COVID-19

Canada Revenue Agency has deferred all payment of any income tax amounts owing on or after March 18 and before September 2020 until after August 31, 2020. The filing date for 2019 tax year has also been extended until June 1, 2020.
View website for more details.

WSIB Financial Relief

Allows businesses to defer premium reporting and payments until August 31, 2020. Businesses who report and pay monthly, quarterly or annually based on their insurable earnings are eligible for deferral.
View website for more details.

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