Canada United, created by RMC is a movement to support local businesses across Canada. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF) was created to help small businesses with the cost of expenses to reopen safely, or adopt e-commerce technologies to conduct more of their business online.
Over $14 Million has been contributed by the Federal Government, RBC, and Canada United partners to support economic recovery due to COVID-19.
How Does it Work?
Qualified applicants will receive a relief grant of up to $5,000 to offset expenses related to 3 categories. The source of the following information is the CUSBRF Program Guide.
- Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment may include equipment purchased to ensure operations are safe for both customers and employees. Eligible equipment costs are incremental costs associated with additional precautions for COVID-19, not normal ongoing business costs. Eligible equipment can include items such as: masks, face shields, gloves.
- Renovation of space to adhere to re-opening guidelines
Renovation of space includes alterations specifically related to COVID-19 that are temporary or permanent, made to the applicant’s business to reduce the risk to customers or staff. These renovations can include: the building or purchase of physical barriers (plexiglass, sneeze guards, etc.), the creation of signage or floor markers, the building or purchase of sanitizing stations, and more.
- Enhancement of website/ developing e-commerce capability
Enhancement of website/ e-commerce capability involves developing or upgrading a website to better serve customers and pivot business operations as a direct response to COVID-19. Detailed description of enhancements must be provided including quotes where applicable. Enhancement of website can include: creating or designing a website, hiring external staff for copywriting to write/enhance descriptions found on the website, having professional photos taken for products, initial set-up fee for online e-commerce transactions, and more.
Eligibility:
- One application per ownership group. If more than one application is submitted, any subsequent submission after the first time-stamped application will automatically be rejected. Applicants do not need to be a member of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) to qualify.
- Small to medium-sized (SME) companies from all sectors and all regions of Canada. For greater clarity, both For-Profit and Not-For-Profit organizations are eligible to apply but Government organizations, municipalities, charities and the chamber of commerce network are not eligible to apply.
- Be incorporated, or operating as a sole proprietor/partnership, in Canada as of March 1, 2020.
- No more than 75 employees.
- Have minimum annual sales of $150,000 and not more than $3,000,000.
- Have $1,000,000 of commercial general liability insurance (self reported).
- Not receiving any other contributions from public funds towards the specific activities contained in the funding application. Applicants that received funding from another government source must provide details including the exact amount, source of funds and how the funds contributed to the expenditures noted in the budget section of the application.
- Be in full compliance with all applicable government laws, rules, regulations, guidelines and other legally binding measures (self declaration).
- Be in operation after September 1, 2020 (grant recipients must sign a declaration included in the approval letter to confirm).
- Must attach all necessary receipts and invoices, accompanied with proof of payment, with the application. Failure to include sufficient expenditure details and accompanying documents will result in automatic disqualification.
Supporting Information:
Visit the Canada United Small Business Relief Website
Download the Program Guidelines
If you’d like further information or have any questions about finance or accounting for your small business, reach out to us. We've proudly served Newmarket and the surrounding region for over 20+ years. We pride ourselves on delivering value to all our clients, and providing up-to-date expertise and knowledge.
