The BC government is providing up to $10,000 in grants to businesses required to close due to the provincial health order on December 22, 2021. The grant is not repayable, provided the business follows the health orders and uses the funds appropriately (they must be used for expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, maintenance and employee wages).
Eligibility
To be eligible, a BC business must:
- be operating and registered in BC as of November 1, 2021
- be fully closed in compliance with the December 22, 2021 Provincial Health Officer order
Some examples of qualifying businesses include:
- bars, nightclubs and lounges that do not serve full meals
- pilates and yoga studios
- barre, spin and adult dance studios
- gyms offering indoor high or low intensity group exercise classes
- hospitality venues that can no longer hold events
Application process
The application portal is expected to open sometime in January 2022 and will remain open until the end of February.
To apply, businesses must provide
- direct deposit information
- a single business validation document, which can include a business or liquor license, statement of registration, notice of assessment or lease agreement
Funding available
The amount of the grant is based on the number of BC employees or contracted staff the business had at the time of closure. The following chart is provided on the government of BC website:
| Number of employees or contracted staff |
Amount per business |
| None |
$1,000 |
| 1 to 4 |
$2,000 |
| 5 to 99 |
$5,000 |
| 100+ |
$10,000 |
