Ontario Small Business Support Grant Available Now

Announced in December of 2020, the Ontario Small Business Grant is now open for applications. The grant provides between $10,000 and $20,000 to eligible small businesses that were required to reduce their operations due to the Provincial Shutdown that began on December 26, 2020. Eligible businesses that show a minimum 20% revenue decline when comparing April 2019 to April 2020 revenues will receive “dollar for dollar” funding based on their revenue decline, to a maximum of $20,000, to help cover the expected revenue decline as a result of the shutdown. The grant can be used for whatever “makes the most sense” for the individual business. Following a successful application, a business can expect payment within ten business days. The application deadline for the grant is March 31, 2021.

To be eligible, an Ontario business must:

• Be required to close or significantly restrict services due to the province wide shutdown that began on December 26.
  • A full list of eligible business types can be found here.
• Have less than 100 employees at the enterprise level as of April 30, 2019.
  • Affiliated enterprises (an enterprise that is controlled directly or indirectly by the same enterprise, individual or group of individuals or enterprises) must include their employees from all affiliates.
  • If the enterprise and its affiliates have 100 or more employees, neither the enterprise nor its affiliates are eligible for the grant.  
• Have experienced a minimum 20% revenue decline when comparing April 2019 to April 2020 revenues.
  • Businesses that were not in operation in April 2019 or April 2020 will have alternate revenue decline comparator months. (Ex winter seasonal businesses can compare the month of higher revenue between December 2019 or January 2020, to December 2020.)
  • Companies affiliated as of December 24, 2020, must include revenue of affiliated companies when comparing revenue declines and are only eligible for a maximum of $20,000.

To complete the application, businesses must provide the following:

• Legal business name
• CRA business number
• Business type
• Revenue comparison figures
• Number of employees and
• Business banking information including account number, financial institution name, address, number, branch/transit number and account type

* Applications may be selected for audit and additional information or supporting documentation may be required to prove eligibility.

A full user application guide, provided by the Government of Ontario, can be found here. Determining enterprise status, total employee count across affiliated enterprises, and other eligibility requirements can be complex, if you require assistance or have any questions related to the Ontario Small Business Grant, please contact your Bateman MacKay Business Advisor.