(flickr.com)

Media Contacts

Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation

Communications
250 883-2237

Backgrounders

Financial supports for people and businesses

Throughout the pandemic, the B.C. government has worked with the small and medium-sized business community to offer financial supports for people and businesses negatively affected by COVID-19.

This is a summary of some of the grants that have been provided to British Columbians.

Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant

More than $437 million has been committed to 22,639 businesses in B.C., supporting nearly 190,000 employees.

  • Approximately 36% of funded businesses are in the tourism sector.
  • Approximately 38% of funded businesses are in the services sector.

Committed amounts by B.C. region, as of Oct. 15, 2021:

  • Cariboo – nearly $8.7 million committed to 429 businesses
  • Kootenay – more than $13 million committed to 585 businesses
  • Mainland/southwest – approximately $298 million committed to 16,057 businesses
  • Nechako – more than $2 million committed to 98 businesses
  • North Coast – more than $3.5 million committed to 165 businesses
  • Northeast – more than $3 million committed to 129 businesses
  • Thompson-Okanagan – nearly $41 million committed to 1,900 businesses
  • Vancouver Island/coast – more than $68 million committed to 3,276 businesses

Average grant amount: more than $19,000  

To date, more than 90% of Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grants have been paid.

Throughout the pandemic, Small Business BC has helped businesses with recovery plans by matching professional service providers to help businesses with recovery plans. It is expected that nearly $20 million will be provided to 1,250 registered B.C. professional service providers to support approximately 12,000 businesses in B.C. with recovery plans.

Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant

In total, $88.8 million has been committed to nearly 10,000 businesses throughout B.C., supporting more than 200,000 employees.

  • nearly $73 million to hospitality
  • more than $9 million to fitness businesses
  • more than $7 million to short-term accommodation businesses

Average grant amount: $9,000

To date, more than 99% of Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grants have been paid.

Launch Online Grant Program

Nearly $40 million was given out to almost 5,500 businesses throughout B.C.

  • Approximately 50% of approved applicants are from Indigenous, Black, people of colour (IBPOC)-owned or regional businesses.

As of July 7, 2021, nearly 8,700 applications were received. As of Sept. 24, 2021, more than 5,000 businesses have received close to $40 million in grant payments.

COVID-19 Support Phone Line

More than 38,000 calls related to the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant and Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant were received and answered by Small Business B.C.

  • Approximately 100 calls per day were received.

Digital Marketing Bootcamp program

In total, $4.5 million has been invested. This will fund nearly 6,000 participants throughout B.C. in the Digital Marketing Bootcamp program.

  • Approximately 66% of participants self-identified as IBPOC or people living outside of major urban areas.