CRD: Grant Funding Newsletter October 2021

The following is an e-mail update from the CRD Community Grant Writer which profiles current and upcoming grant funding opportunities.  For more information, or if your organization would like assistance in applying for any of the grants below, please contact the Community Grant Writer.

October 6, 2021

COVID-19

During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, we have created a resource page for businesses with links to information, funding, and support. Please visit our small business resources page.

BC PST Rebate on Select Machinery and Equipment – Province of BC
The B.C. PST Rebate on Select Machinery and Equipment is a temporary provincial sales tax (PST) program to help corporations recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19.
The rebate acts like a refund but is separate from the existing PST Refund process. Under this temporary program, corporations can apply to receive an amount equal to the PST they paid between September 17, 2020 and September 30, 2021 on qualifying machinery and equipment. PST invoiced before the deadline but paid after September 30, 2021 does not qualify for the rebate.
To apply visit the project website.

COVID-19 Community Business Fund – Metis Financial Corporation BC
MFCBC has three grant programs in the COVID-19 Business Support Fund to support Métis Entrepreneurs. The programs cover microbusiness, small, medium, new, and community-owned businesses. These grant programs are aimed at providing financial relief to allow Métis businesses to remain operating until the BC COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan is fully implemented in 2021. The new grant programs are also aimed at supporting Métis businesses that may not have qualified for financial relief programs initiated earlier in the pandemic.
To apply visit the program website.

Indigenous People’s Resilience Fund
This program provides immediate financial support of $5,000 to $30,000 for projects that are serving indigenous populations as they manage the impacts of COVID-19. Eligible projects will clearly address a pressing social inclusion or well-being need caused by COVID-19. Intake is on a rolling basis.
To apply visit the program website.

Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy for Businesses– New Criteria
To apply for CERS, you must have a qualifying property. Only certain expenses you pay for qualifying properties are eligible for CERS.
To apply visit the program website.

Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy – Updates November 19, 2020
As a Canadian employer who has seen a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your employee wages, retroactive to March 15. This subsidy will enable you to re-hire workers, help prevent further job losses, and ease you back into normal operations.
To apply visit the program website.

Indigenous Community Business Fund
Indigenous Tourism BC in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada and the Aboriginal Financial Institutions in BC are delivering $5 million dollar Tourism and Hospitality Fund through the Indigenous Community Business Fund.  The fund will provide non-repayable grant contributions of up to $25,000 per community to First Nation and Inuit community-owned and Metis collectively owned businesses and microbusinesses.
To apply visit the program website.

Responsive Neighborhood Small Grant – Vancouver Foundation
The Responsive NSG grant stream provides grants of up to $500 for projects that connect people socially or involve sharing skills or talents. Projects must comply with public health orders for physical distancing.
This is available to all BC residents. The Responsive NSG grant stream is now open as of April 15. The end date will be determined based on public health orders.
To apply visit the program website.

Wage Subsidy – Work BC
The WorkBC Wage Subsidy program provides funding to eligible employers to hire, provide work experience and on-the-job training. Both unemployed individuals and employers in B.C. can benefit from WorkBC Wage Subsidy.
For more information visit the program website.

Supports for Workers and Employers

2021 Wildfire and Drought Recovery – Province of BC
The Wildfire and Drought Recovery Initiative is intended to help agricultural producers with the extraordinary expenses necessary for recovery from 2021’s extreme impacts and to help the return to production as soon as possible. By design, this initiative is to provide significant funding up front and allow for updates as further information becomes available. This is particularly valuable for livestock producers who require some flexibility in managing the difficult conditions they are currently facing.

The Wildfire and Drought Recovery Initiative provides some assistance to help offset the extraordinary costs required to return to agricultural production. It is not intended to compensate for farm income losses and does not diminish the need to purchase commercial insurance for farm assets and infrastructure.
To apply visit the program website.

EMBC Wildfire 2021 Emergency Feed Program – Province of BC
The program is meant to support commercial livestock businesses in the response stage i.e., as they respond to the threats and impacts of wildfire and transition to a revised operational strategy. The program will provide emergency feed support for up to 14 days to facilitate those transitions and/or to continue to respond to wildfire related activities. Extensions will be considered upon request and granted pending review by the Agriculture Program Team.
To apply visit the program website.

Job Placement Coordination Offices
Job placement offices are opening in five interior communities hardest hit by mill closures: 100 Mile House (now open); Fort St. James; Fort St. John; Mackenzie; and Clearwater. These offices will have dedicated people ready to support forestry workers in their communities.
To apply visit the program website.

Experience Matters! – Government of Canada
The Experience Matters! Program offers eligible employers in BC a negotiated Wage Subsidy as an incentive to hire eligible job seekers aged 55+.
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
To apply visit the program website.

Job Creation Partnerships – WorkBC
Job Creation Partnerships support funding to organizations and provide community benefit while creating jobs to assist unemployed EI eligible clients with opportunities to gain meaningful work experience. Projects benefit the job seeker, community, and the local economy. However, the primary focus must be on helping the job seeker. Projects may last up to a year, and organizations may be reimbursed for project-specific overhead costs incurred (e.g. materials and supplies, rental of equipment, and other eligible expenses negotiated with program officials).
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
To apply visit the program website.

B.C. Employer Training Grant – WorkBC
The B.C. Employer Training Grant (ETG) supports skills training to address provincial labour market needs.
The goal of the ETG is to help British Columbians access the skills training they need to adapt to the changing requirements of jobs and the labour market while encouraging employer involvement in the training of their employees.
Employers are eligible to receive up to $300,000 per fiscal year (April 1 – March 31).
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
To apply visit the program website.

Digital Skills for Youth – Innovate BC
he Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) program, funded by the Government of Canada, provides up to $26,000 for digital skills training so youth can successfully transition to the workforce​. The program helps to increase the employability and marketability of youth in British Columbia, as well as match underemployed youth with SMEs and non-profits in all regions of the province.
To apply visit the program website.

Wage Subsidy – Work BC
The WorkBC Wage Subsidy program provides funding to eligible employers to hire, provide work experience and on-the-job training. Both unemployed individuals and employers in B.C. can benefit from WorkBC Wage Subsidy.
For more information visit the program website.

Jobs and Growth Fund in Western Canada – Government of Canada
The Jobs and Growth Fund provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth.
To apply visit the program website.

Community Grants

Community Grants

MRDT Funding – Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Authorized purposes of MRDT revenue for all designated recipients are tourism marketing, programs and projects. Any proposed projects must also be aligned with the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Marketing Association’s 5 Year Tourism Plan.
Application Deadline: November 9, 2021
To apply visit the program website.

Grant – Central Cariboo Arts & Culture Society
Four streams of grants are available for existing non-profit organizations or community groups in Williams Lake and the Central Cariboo (CRD Areas D, E, and F) to support and develop arts and culture initiatives within this region. The funding for these grants is courtesy of the City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District (Central Cariboo Arts & Culture function), subject to the availability of funds.
Application Deadline: 4:00pm, November 15, 2020
To apply visit the program website.

Community Development Grants – Northern Development Initiative Trust
NDIT offers a variety of community development grant streams. This funding is available for non-profit organizations, municipal and regional governments. Different streams are earmarked for specific projects and offer a varying dollar value.
Application Deadline: October 31, 2021
To apply visit the program website.

Help for Evacuees – BC Hydro
Residential and commercial customers who are affected by an evacuation order are eligible to receive a credit for the electricity consumed for the duration of the time they’re out of their home, if the order is for five days or longer. We also offer flexible bill payment plans for when you’re able to return home.
To apply visit the program website.

2021 BC Wildfire Assistance – Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross is providing one-time financial assistance to households whose primary residence has been severely impacted by this season’s wildfires, households who were evacuated from the Lytton, B.C. region due to wildfires, and households under an evacuation order for 10 or more consecutive days due to wildfires in the province.
To apply visit the program website.

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast – Consumer Show Funding
The CCCTMA also provides businesses with access to MRDT funds to help cover the cost of consumer show attendance. Consumer shows are a great opportunity to both promote tourism product and to network with other operators. By completing both the application and reporting forms businesses can have up to 50% of their event fee covered (less GST).
Application deadline: December 31, 2022 or until the budget is committed on a first come, first serve basis.
To apply visit the program website.

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund – Government of Canada
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture, and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces. In Budget 2017 the Government of Canada announced an additional $300 million over a ten year period, starting in 2018-2019, to further support creative hubs and other cultural spaces. The CCSF will continue to invest in traditional arts and heritage facilities, such as museums, theatres and performing arts centres. The CCSF annual grants and contributions budget is $54 million for the period 2018-2028.
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
To apply visit the program website.

Tourism Resiliency Financing – Community Futures and CCCTA
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) is collaborating with Community Futures organizations throughout the region to assist in providing financial support to the tourism sector as part of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Resiliency Program.  Access loans starting from $500 to over $150,000 to support long term tourism industry recovery and resiliency.
For more information, visit the program website.

First Nation Adapt Program – Government of Canada
The First Nation Adapt Program supports community projects that build the capacity of First Nations south of the 60th parallel to address climate change impacts. We know that climate change is already affecting and will continue to affect communities across Canada, with significant implications for infrastructure, disaster mitigation and community well-being. First Nations are particularly at risk due to their location, aging infrastructure, and close ties to the land. In particular, flooding has been identified as a key priority by First Nations and the program. The central goal of the program is to improve resiliency to climate change by improving knowledge of the issues facing First Nations, in order to better plan for the future. The average yearly cost of funded projects is between $80,000 and $160,000, with costs varying based on the scope and nature of projects.
Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until all available funding is allocated.
To apply visit the program website.

Community Gaming Grant – Province of BC
Community Gaming Grants provide $140 million annually to not-for-profit organizations throughout B.C., to support their delivery of ongoing programs and services that meet the needs of their communities. This page includes information about these grants, including eligibility criteria, grant amounts, how and when to apply and more.
Application Intake: Human and Social Services, June 1 – November 30, 2021
To apply visit the program website.

Digital Museums of Canada Grants
Administered by the Canadian Museum of History with the financial support of the Government of Canada, the Digital Museums Canada (DMC) investment program invests in online projects by Canadian museums and heritage organizations, helping them build digital capacity and share stories and experiences with people everywhere. This program offers three opportunities:

Small Investment
This stream is intended for small Canadian community museums and heritage organizations that wish to create community-focussed[1] online projects with a user-friendly template. These projects are called Community Stories. Organizations whose proposals are accepted receive an investment of $15,000 and the support and guidance of the DMC team throughout the project.
Application Deadline: November 24, 2021

Medium Investment
Projects are developed around the organization’s chosen subject and must provide the user with a complete online experience. Examples include virtual exhibits, virtual tours, online games, web apps, educational resources and more. The Medium investment stream provides an investment of $50,000 to $150,000 to cover eligible costs.
Application Deadline: October 27, 2021

Large Investment
Funding is available for bilingual online projects, modest or ambitious, that provide an interpretation of the subject matter and content as well as an engaging user experience. The Large investment stream provides an investment of $150,000 to $250,000 to cover eligible costs.
Application Deadline: October 27, 2021
To apply visit the program website.

Western Economic Diversification Canada – Tourism Relief Fund
The Tourism Relief Fund supports tourism businesses and organizations adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth.
Applications accepted until all funds have been allocated.
To Apply visit the program website.

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