Prince Edward Island:

• The federal and provincial governments are working with the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island to provide free training programs and workshops to support tourism operators impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The training includes instruction on various topics including Social Media – How to Make the Most of your Online Presence, Product Development, Growing Revenues, Digitizing your Operations, and Diversity and Inclusion Training
• Visit the Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island website for registration information.

Quebec: 

• The provincial government announced an increase in the forgivable portion of loans granted to tourism businesses whose activities are affected by the pandemic. The ceiling for the forgivable portion of loans has been changed from $100,000 to $250,000.
• In addition, tourism businesses that have an active file in the program can receive forgiveness of monthly energy expenses incurred between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, up to a maximum total of $ 210,000 per establishment.
• By combining the two offers, an eligible tourism business could be entitled to a total pardon of up to $460,000.
• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government is making a non-refundable financial contribution of $1.2 million through the Entrepreneurship Assistance Program to the Quebec Business Women’s Network to accelerate the revival of women-owned businesses by accessing new markets.
• The initiative provides for the support of 500 women-owned businesses in eight regions of Quebec
• The project, which will take place over a period of three years, will target Quebec women-owned companies with the necessary capacities to participate in the supply chains of major national and international contractors.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Ontario:

• The provincial government is expanding eligibility for the Main Street Relief Grant to help small businesses offset the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment.
• Small businesses with 2 to 19 employees in all eligible sectors, up from 2-9 employees, can apply for up to $1,000.
• This one-time grant reimburses businesses for up to $1,000 in PPE costs incurred since March 17, 2020.
• Learn more about the Main Street Relief Grant.

 

• The provincial government is launching new health and safety education campaigns focusing on helping small businesses across the province reopen safely. 
• It includes a comprehensive suite of resources business owners can access at no cost to ensure they are helping prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
• Click here to learn about developing a COVID-19 workplace safety plan.

 

• The provincial government is providing up to $118,500 to develop specialized COVID-19 resources to better protect the health and safety of temporary foreign workers and others employed in the agri-food sector.
• These resources will be designed by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. They will be made available in a variety of languages and formats and will be distributed to farms, greenhouses and food processing operations across Ontario.
• Read the official release to learn more.

Alberta:

• Small businesses can benefit from the new Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit, which will provide $30,000 in support to small and medium-sized businesses that have been most affected by the pandemic and ongoing health restrictions.
• The Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit provides financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees. Businesses that can demonstrate a revenue reduction of 60 per cent or more will be eligible to receive 15 percent of their monthly revenue, up to a maximum of $10,000.
• The additional $10,000 can be used to offset costs associated with COVID-19, such as purchasing personal protective equipment, paying bills, or hiring staff.
• Payments under the Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit will be available in April 2021.
• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government is investing $3.8 million in a new initiative to help Albertans with language barriers gain the skills they need to build careers and support the health-care system.
• The two-year pilot program integrates English language learning with health-care aide training, enabling Albertans with English language barriers to access the specialized and comprehensive education they need to be successful front-line health-care workers.
• The training will support 324 students over the next two years and help Alberta meet the growing demand for front-line health-care workers. A successful pilot will also provide a model to expand integrated English language training to other programs and professions.
• Four post-secondary institutions from across the province are participating in the pilot program and will begin accepting up to 130 students in the first year, with training starting in March 2021.
• Participating students will be fully funded through the Learner Income Support Program.
• Read the official release to learn more.

British Columbia:

• The provincial government is investing $4.5 million to help rural businesses and communities recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The funding will be distributed and administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust, the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust and the Island Coastal Economic Trust. Each trust will receive up to $1.5 million. 
• About 60 temporary jobs are expected to be created in rural communities throughout B.C. These jobs will be focused on providing support and advisory services to help rural businesses and communities with their economic recovery efforts.
• Read the official release to learn more.

 

• The provincial government is investing $750,000 to develop new food hubs in Rock Creek and Greenwood, and $500,000 to develop a new food hub in Creston.
• The hubs will help small- and medium-sized businesses access shared food and beverage processing space and equipment to increase their production and sales.
• Learn more about the BC Food Hub Network.

 

• The Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), one of British Columbia’s three publicly funded regional trusts, is expanding the number of communities it serves to benefit more people.
• The expansion means organizations within the Capital Regional District (CRD) electoral areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and the southern Gulf Islands are eligible to apply for funding from ICET and be included in other services that ICET provides.
• ICET is an independent regional economic development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth and job creation on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
• Learn more about the Island Coastal Economic Trust.

Northwest Territories:

• The territorial government is expanding its Digital Bootcamp training initiative to help tourism operators maximize their digital presence.
• Eligible participants will learn the benefit of website audits, tips for increasing traffic, search engine analytics, and social media management. Training is delivered individually through face-to-face virtual sessions and customized to suit each operator’s unique marketing situations.
• Read the official release to learn more.