Closure Relief Grant funds doubled for eligible businesses

Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,

We're coming to you with a small piece of good news today. This morning, the Province announced it is extending the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant and doubling supports for eligible businesses that have been ordered to remain temporarily closed through public health measures until Feb. 16, 2022.

Businesses directed to remain temporarily closed through public health orders are now eligible for up to $20,000 in total funding, based on staffing levels at the time of closure (see below).

Eligible businesses include:

  • bars, nightclubs and lounges that do not serve full meals; and

  • event venues that had to close due to cancellations.

Businesses that have applied for a COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant do not need to reapply. If you have not applied already, click here to apply for a grant.

The $4-million extension of the original $10-million grant program complements existing federal government programs, including the Local Lockdown Program and the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit.

The Local Lockdown Program provides wage and commercial rent support for businesses and other organizations, regardless of their sector, that have been affected by regional provincial health officer orders. This program is a way businesses, charities, and non-profit organizations can receive up to 75% in wage and rent support. The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit provides $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19 related public health order and have lost 50% or more of their income.

Business relief grant eligibility criteria, pay structure

To be eligible for the updated COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant amount, a business is required to:

  • confirm it has been fully closed by the Dec. 22, 2021, provincial health officer’s orders;

  • confirm it was registered with BC Registries before Nov. 1, 2021;

  • produce up-to-date business validation documents (2020 or newer), such as a municipal business licence, liquor licence, notice of assessment, insurance policy, statement of business registration or lease agreement;

  • confirm majority ownership and operations and payment of taxes in B.C.; and

  • confirm that the business has been following and will continue to follow all public health orders.

Eligible businesses that also offer online rentals or online services, but their physical location is fully closed, can apply.

New applicants will need to provide direct-deposit information. This may not be needed if business was approved for the Circuit Breaker Business Relief or the Small- and Medium-Sized Business Recovery grants, and banking information is the same.

For more information on the COVID-19 Closure Relief Grant, including the application process and eligibility and timeline, click here.

Eligible businesses that remain temporarily closed as a result of the Jan. 18, 2022, provincial health officer orders will receive funding based on number of staff at the time of closure. The breakdown is as follows:

  • businesses with no employees or contracted staff: $2,000

  • one to four employees or contracted staff: $4,000

  • five to 99 employees or contracted staff: $10,000

  • 100 or more employees or contracted staff: $20,000.

Applications will be accepted until Feb. 28, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. (PST).

Commentary from ABLE BC

As noted in yesterday's email, as soon as the Provincial Health Orders were extended we immediately contacted government to secure additional financial support for businesses ordered closed. While we would all prefer industry to be up and running at full capacity, we know that these grants are a vital lifeline for those businesses prohibited from operating by the PHOs.

We are immensely grateful to Minister Ravi Kahlon (Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation) and his team for their ongoing support and hard work getting this program launched so quickly.

We also worked to offer some of you a path forward to reopening. We clarified that liquor licensees without kitchens (such as nightclubs, lounges, legions, or curling clubs), are permitted to re-open provided they offer "full meal service." This includes food provided by a caterer to the premises or available from a food truck located beside or on the premises, but does not include snacks, appetizers or tapas on their own. So even if you don't have a kitchen, you can partner with local pubs or restaurants to offer dine-in delivery meal service to your patrons. While it's not a perfect solution, we hope it will support some members and in the short term.

For members in Northern BC, we are continuing to work with government and relevant health officials to rescind the prohibition against selling alcohol on premise past 10 p.m. We hope to have an update for you soon.

For more information

Ann Brydle