Businesses -- Credit to Canadian Press

By Connor Gunn

Alberta’s relaunch grant being expanded for new COVID restrictions

Dec 8, 2020 | 5:19 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB– Supporting Alberta’s small businesses, the Alberta government is expanding and increasing the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant.

The increase will expand the grant so 15,000 more businesses may be eligible for funding.

In November, the provincial government announced that businesses impacted by recent public health orders were eligible to apply for a second payment through this program.

This second payment will now be 15 per cent of pre-pandemic monthly revenues up to a maximum of $15,000 for a total of $20,000 in potential funding available for each business, up from the original $5,000.

The payment will be available to businesses operating in areas on the provincial watch list that have new health restrictions.

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These expansions include job creators who have experienced a 30 per cent revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This now lowers the threshold from the requirement of a 40 per cent revenue loss.

“Our small businesses need additional supports, and they need them today – that’s why we’re taking action now to increase the funding available to our local job creators. We’ve tripled our support to get job creators the help they need so we can come out of this pandemic stronger than before. Alberta’s government is here for our small businesses while we protect the lives and livelihoods of all Albertans.” Says Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation, Doug Schweitzer.

In the release from the Alberta government, other help includes, “The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that faced restrictions or closures from public health orders.”

“Job creators that meet the program’s eligibility criteria can apply for 15 per cent of their pre-COVID-19 monthly revenue up to a maximum of $20,000 since the program launched.”

More information and how to apply can be found here.