Apply Now: ON Businesses eligible for help with COVID-19 costs up to $20k
The Ontario government is supporting businesses that are required to shut down or significantly restrict services due to provincial public health measures. Businesses can apply for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant and the property tax and energy cost rebates to help offset their costs.
Applications for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant opened on January 15. Small businesses facing challenges due to the necessary Province-wide Shutdown can apply for the grant on the Transfer Payment Ontario portal. Starting at $10,000 for all eligible businesses, the grant will provide businesses with a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue as a result of the Province-wide Shutdown.
Businesses can also apply for the property tax and energy cost rebates provided in the form of grants on the Transfer Payment Ontario portal. The rebates include municipal and education property taxes, and energy costs, including electricity and natural gas (or where natural gas is not available, propane and heating oil).
Most businesses can expect to receive their grant payments within a few weeks of submitting a complete application. A detailed list of eligible businesses can be found at Ontario.ca/covidsupport.
The property tax and energy cost rebates will cover the entire length of time that businesses are required to temporarily close or significantly restrict services as a result of the Province-wide Shutdown or previously under Control, Lockdown, or modified Stage 2 public health restrictions. Property tax rebates for extended public health restriction periods will be automatically processed. That means eligible businesses will not have to re-apply for the property tax rebate grant if public health restrictions are extended by the Province.
To apply for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant, businesses will need a business number and will have to attest to information on revenue decline and the number of employees. For the property tax and energy cost rebates, businesses will have to submit proof of costs. For property tax rebates, this includes property tax bills (or proof of costs associated with property taxes). For energy cost rebates, this includes a digital copy of the first energy bill (including electricity, natural gas, propane or other) they received on or after the day new restrictions were put in place in their region. They can also submit other energy bills if their business is heated by propane or heating oil.
Applying is simple via an online application for the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and a single online form to apply for any – or all – of the programs, including property tax rebates, energy cost rebates and the PPE grant on the Transfer Payment Ontario portal.
Questions? Please contact Transfer Payment Ontario Client Care at: Tel: 416-325-6691 or Toll-free: 1-855-216-3090.