COVID-19: Information for Downtown Victoria Member Businesses

As we enter the fall and winter, cases are rising throughout BC.  Businesses can, and should, take steps to ensure their location is safe for customers – and to communicate that gently for everyone’s peace of mind.  Some resources to help:

• Worksafe BC – Guidelines for returning safely and operating different types of businesses;
• Small Business BC – How to create a COVID-19 safety plan;
• VIATEC – Back to the office handbook & other resources;
• Small Business BC – Up-to-date health and safety information;
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety – Downloadable tip sheets and best practices for different industries;
• City of Victoria – Signage and checklists
  • COVID-19 Occupancy Signage
  • COVID-19 Poster/Floor Sticker design files
  • COVID-19 Prevention Checklist

These resources are intended to help businesses build their digital presence and digital literacy, as well as to share best practices for reopening and recovery as they become available.

• Retail Council of Canada – Retail Recovery Playbook – Best practices to help retail businesses safely open and adjust to new demands and operating requirements;
• VIATEC – Digital Economy Rapid Response & Resiliency Program – A no-cost program to help businesses outside the tech sector explore and implement digital tools to help them survive and thrive;
• Small Business BC – Back To Business Free Webinars – these webinars are about adapting and pivoting your business to deal with the current ‘COVID economy’;
• Digital Main Street – Digital Literacy Courses – this Ontario-based program has some aspects that are only available provincially, but the three series of free online courses are available to anyone.
  • Main Street Relaunch Program – help focusing on e-commerce and online marketing;
  • Digital Transformation Training Program – build a digital business plan and learn necessary digital literacy skills;
  • Marketing your Business in the New Economy – further information on digital business plans and skills.
• Rogers Communications – Free Online Tutorials – build your digital literacy by watching videos about website creation, social media strategies, and similar topics.  All of these are free to support small businesses.

These are various programs providing income support to businesses and wage subsidies to employers who have seen a decline in revenue due to the ongoing pandemic.  Unlike the loan options in the following section, these programs are outright grants and fee deferrals.

Grants:

• BC Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant Program – grants of $10,000 to $30,000 (to $40,000 if you are a tourist business) for businesses who have experienced a demonstrable decline in revenue.  Available until March 31, 2021 or until all $300 million in funding is allocated.  Apply here!
• Buy BC Partnership Program – grants of up to $5,000 are available to food and beverage processors to build e-commerce platforms.
• Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy – this revitalized rent subsidy program provides direct assistance to tenants.  It subsidizes a percentage of business costs for businesses, charities, and non-profits with a revenue drop.  It provides up to 65% of costs, with an additional 25% available to businesses who are or have been unable to operate due to a health order.
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy – this subsidy covers part of your employee wages if your business or organization has experienced a drop in revenue.  The subsidy is retroactively available from March 15, 2020 and will operate until June 2021.  Public institutions are not eligible, though non-profits and charities are able to apply.  Applicants must provide data for each CEWS claim period; funds will be paid by direct deposit or by cheque.
• Work-sharing Program – provides income support for employees who collectively agree to reduce their normal hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers.

Other Relief Initiatives:

• City of Victoria – passed motions to ensure: no property tax increases for residential or commercial ratepayers; extended property tax deadline and decreased late payment penalties; and to extend the deadline for utility bill payments.
• The UVic Business Law Clinic is offering free information about business law issues to clients in the community; this includes business planning and operations advice during COVID-19.
• BC Hydro has introduced a program to allow customers the option to defer payments or arrange for penalty-free flexible payment plans, recognizing that the virus has caused limits to employment and different patterns of energy use.
• Fortis BC has waived late payment fees and is offering flexible payment plans; they’re also offering free customized energy advice for small and medium businesses to help them reduce their operating costs.
• Worksafe BC will waive all premiums for employers who have employees on leave and who have qualified for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC):
  • Special Support – loans of up to $100,000 for small businesses, capital financing up to $2 million.
  • Business Credit Availability Program Guarantee – up to $6.25 million loans to help cover operating costs where revenues are reduced due to the pandemic; 80% of loan will be guaranteed.
  • Special Support Co-Lending program – up to $12.5 million, co-financed by BDC and your financial institution.
  • Mid-Market Financing – loans between $12.5 million and $60 million for medium-sized businesses impacted by the pandemic.
• Canada Emergency Business Account – interest free loans for small businesses and not-for-profits; originally for up to $40,000, the amount available has been extended to $60,000.  If the loan is repaid before December 31, 2022, up to $10,000 ($20,000 on a $60,000 loan) will be forgiven.  Must apply before December 31, 2020.
• Futurpreneur – financing and business plan mentoring for entrepreneurs aged 18 – 39.
• Indigenous Business Relief – Indigenous businesses are eligible for up to $40,000 in funding: $30,000 as an interest-free loan and $10,000 as a non-repayable contribution.
• Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (Western Economic Diversification Canada) – loan program for small and medium sized businesses and women-led or -owned businesses.  Interest free loan of up to $40,000 – some small businesses are eligible for an interest-free loan of up to $100,000.
  • If you are a tourism operator or small- and medium-sized business or organization that has previously received Regional Development funding, please contact your local RDA office (1-888-338-9378).
• Black Entrepreneurship Program – details will follow.

• Build Back Victoria – City of Victoria initiative to allow for expanded patios, shared use of parking spots and sidewalks, and other business-friendly developments.
• Emergency Food Security Fund – to improve access to food, including – if needed – hiring temporary help to fill volunteer shortages.  The funding is distributed through 5 different national agencies – social services and charities who are working in this sector are encouraged to reach out to the agencies for emergency aid.
• Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy – funding has been expanded due to the pandemic.
• Shaw Communications has urged customers to reach out to address changing financial or connectivity needs.  They have also opted to open up the Shaw Go Wifi public network to everyone, regardless of if they are a Shaw customer.
• Telus has donated tablets, devices and expanded internet/mobility coverage to support healthcare workers, seniors, students who are learning from home, and hospitalized patients.  They are also sharing anonymized and aggregated data to help reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19.
• Rogers has, amongst other initiatives, launched a website – Support Local – to showcase small businesses as they adapt to the crisis.

For individuals and employees:

• Canada Recovery Benefit – payments for people in isolation/quarantine, or who have to take time off to act as a caregiver, but are not normally eligible for EI.  Paid in two-week intervals, up to a total of 26 weeks, between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
• CERB – now discontinued in favour of the Recovery Benefit, but retroactive applications are allowed until December 2, 2020.