Another wave of applications for the Canada United Grant, which could give business owners the chance to get as much as $5,000 to cover expenses. (Ontario Chamber of Commerce)

By Josh Ryan

Funding options

Chamber of Commerce urging businesses to explore grants

Feb 24, 2021 | 5:07 PM

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, along with it’s regional chapters, is urging business owners to see if they qualify for the reopened Canada United grant.

More than 2,000 businesses across the country have applied for the grant, which provides up to $5,000 for pandemic related expenses. Applications opened back up on February 16 for the grant, which was authored by the Ontario Chamber and funded by RBC. Saskatchewan Chamber CEO Scott McLellen said they don’t have an exact number of how many businesses have yet to apply in the province, but hopes more take advantage.

“There’s still lots of businesses that are eligible and have yet to apply,” he said. “We need to keep those dollars in Saskatchewan.”

The $5,000 can cover expenses in purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE), renovations related to re-opening guidelines and investments developing or improving online opportunities. The latter is one item the McLellen said he hopes more businesses explore.

“If you’re a company that’s looked at digital enhancement to add to your social media or marketing and you’ve got receipts for those things, you need to apply,”

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The Saskatchewan Chamber is continuing to work with the province in finding ways to help businesses cope during the pandemic, with a particular focus on the sectors most impacted. McLellen said convention centres, hotels, restaurants and other areas related primarily to tourism and entertainment are still being hit hard economically, though there are some success stories.

“There are hotels where things like waterslides have helped them [stay afloat] at a break-even basis,” McLellen said. “Some restaurants used their VLT revenue and takeout revenue to their advantage, along with reduced staff costs and hours and so on.”

“There will be some restaurants that will close, there will be some hotels that may not reopen, but there is no one sector that will be all closed.”

However, given the provincial government’s current restrictions being extended till March 19 and no planned end-date to these measures, McLellen is urging more business owners to take advantage of any funding opportunities available.

“Take some time have a look at them. That money is yours, it’s your tax dollars,” he said. “If we can use it to keep businesses open, then let’s do it.”

Battlefords Chamber of Commerce COO Linda Machniak said this is one of the few available sources of funding specifically that will cover PPE expenses, making it an obvious choice for businesses.

“Most of the programs don’t allow you to recover that expense, but this one does,” Machniak said. “If people haven’t been on the first go around, this is the opportunity to do it.”

Machniak said one of the issues for some business owners has been the changing requirements, where people thought they may not qualify and haven’t gone back. With another opening of the grant, she said it’s imperative to check with an accountant if it’s not something you can look into yourself.

“I hope people have taken the opportunity to get professional help,” she said.

The Canadian Chamber recently introduced a 20-member panel of chief and senior executives from companies like Pfizer Canada, Shopper’s Drug Mart and WestJet, to lend business-led advice in guiding Canadians, and possibly the government, through economic recovery. Machniak said she’s looking forward to seeing what comes out of that group

“These people have expertise in logistics and large project delineation and can certainly offer the federal government, as well as businesses across the country, ideas and support.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports