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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Health and Safety

Signs

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Government of Ontario

World Health Organization

Workplace Guidance - May 10

Financial Support

Reconnect Festival and Event Program

Non-capital funding for in-person and online events that encourage travel locally to rediscover the beauty and diversity of their community and create economic impact locally, regionally and provincially. The program creates job opportunities in tourism, culture and entertainment sectors and increase Ontario's profile.
The event is open to the public, takes place between August 12, 2020 and March 31, 2021 with an operating budget of at least $50,000.
Accepting applications on an ongoing basis until the program closes December 1, 2020
For more detail visit Ontario Funding webpage.

Futurpreneur Canada

Financing and mentoring to aspiring business owners aged 18-39 to launch successful businesses across Canada.
Up to $60,000 in financing (in partnership with the BDC), an expert business mentor for up to two years, and resources to help you plan, manage and grow your business.
Collateral-free loans at better interest rates than most banks.
For more information on eligibility or to apply, visit the Futurpreneur Canada website.

Canada United Small Business Relief Fund

Open to small to medium-sized companies from all sectors including not-for-profit with the exception of government organizations, charities and Chamber of Commerce network.
A company can have no more than 75 employees with minimum of $150,000 in annual sales and not more than $3,000,000.
Funds can be used for PPE, renovating physical space to adhere to reopening guidelines and developing or improving e-commerce capabilities
Application window opens October 26th.
For more information on your eligibility and how to apply please visit the Ontario Chamber of Commerce webpage.

Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund (TEDRF)

Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries TEDRF application based, cost-sharing program to provide non-capital funding to innovative new tourism products, support tourism investment or build capacity of Ontario’s tourism industry
Program is open to Tourism Businesses and Not-for-Profit Organizations (with clearly defined tourism focus)
See application guide for program objectives, priorities, eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Energy Assistance Program - Small Business (CEAP-SB)

Provides one-time, on-bill credit to eligible small business and registered charity customers to help them catch up on their energy bills.
Up to $850 in support towards electricity bill if you are a primarily using electricity for heating, or up to $425 otherwise. Could also be eligible for up to $425 towards natural gas bill
CEAP-SB is being delivery by electricity distributors, natural gas distributers and unit sub-meter providers (USMPs) in accordance with rules laid out by Ontario Energy Board
Utilities and USMPs will begin accepting applications on August 31, 2020
See Ontario Energy Board for background information and check with your provider for more details on eligibility and application.

Resilient Communities Fund

A one-time fund to support the community-based or provincial non-profit sector delivering services and programs in Ontario looking ahead to recovery planning with the aim to rebuilding capacity.
Grant requests can range from $5,000 to $150,000.
Only one grant per eligible organization will be awarded. Application intake deadlines: September 2, 2020 and December 2, 2020.
For further information on eligibility, activities supported and how to apply visit Ontario Trillium Foundation web page.
One-on-one coaching is available if you have additional questions. Use the online booking tool to schedule a coaching call.

Rebuild Reopen Revive Initiative

FedDev Ontario and the Government of Canada’s Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, RE3 provides non-repayable, performance-based contributions of up to $5,000 to Ontario-based Women-led small and medium sized enterprises.
Eligibility is a woman or women, driving the direction of the business (minimum 51% equity stake), that is a sole proprietor or for-profit corporation. Activities include acquisition of required PPE, workspace reconfiguration to accommodate physical distancing, and hardware/software updates to enhance online capacity, client servicing, accessibility.
Eastern Ontario are being administered by Northumberland CFDC. To find out more and apply visit RE3 webpage

Digital Main Street

Support for main street businesses to adopt technology that enables their digital transformation.
Provides grant funding for training, advisory support and contributions to digital transformations
Eligible businesses must be a main street business located in or close to a downtown (zoned C1, C2 or equivalent), employing 1-10 employees (or fewer than 25 employees if you are a cafe, restaurant or bar), paying commercial property tax, registered business in Ontario
For full eligibility requirements and registration, visit Main Street Digital Transformation Grant webpage.

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

October 9 - new sliding scale rent subsidy announced that will provide support directly to qualified tenants until 2021. More details still to come.

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
Property owners and small business tenants are now able to opt in on the July extension.
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 24 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:
As of June 26, business eligible now include owner-operated businesses that do not have a payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporation remunerating in the form of dividends.
October 9 - announced expanded CEBA for eligible businesses and not-for-profits to access an interest-free loan of $20,000 in additional of the original $40,000. Half of this additional financing would be forgivable if repaid by December 31, 2022. Application deadline extended to December 31, 2020. Further details on launch dates and application process still to be announced.
CEBA has been extended to December 31, 2020

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)

October 9 - announced extension until June 2021, more details still to come.
Eligible employers who had any drop in revenue can now qualify for the wage subsidy.
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

Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program

Provides farmers, producers and off-farm packing operations funding to purchase Personal Protective Equipment and do workplace modifications and other measures
Funding is now open and additional details on program available.

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
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).
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.

Emergency Support Fund for Heritage Organizations - Museum Assistance Program

Open for not-for-profit organizations such as museums, archives, or historic sites (including those that operate seasonally and those without full-time staff), indigenous organizations, municipal museums, etc.
To be eligible must provide public access through regular hours of operation (including on a part-time or seasonal basis) and have annual expenses in 2019 between $10,000 and $3 million.
Application deadline is now closed.
For more background information visit the 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.

Local Resources & Reports

Business Support Working Group