This morning Minister Ravi Kahlon (Jobs, Economic Recovery & Innovation) announced that the BC Business Recovery Grant Program has been expanded to provide access to more BC businesses. This consists of a simplified application process and streamlined qualification criteria for SMEs including the following:

• Minimum revenue drop has gone from 50% down to 30%
• Requirement for length of time in operation has gone from 3 years down to 18 months (businesses only need to have been in operation nine months before the pandemic)
• Business that are seasonal in nature / temporarily closed are now eligible to apply
• Applications can now be submitted by sole proprietors
  
• Tourism businesses can qualify for an additional $15,000 in addition to the existing $10,000-$30,000 available for other eligible businesses
• These new criteria apply to existing applications; there is no need to re-apply
• NOTE: this grant is for businesses only, non-profit organizations are not eligible

​​For more information or to apply go to https://bcbusinessrecoverygrant.com/.

For more information or assistance navigating programs and supports available to businesses in Delta, contact Lydia Elder at the Delta Chamber of Commerce. 

Delta Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Yvonne Anderson recently wrote to the Honourable Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta-North, congratulating him on his recent appointment to Cabinet in the role as Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. 

In her letter to Minister Kahlon, Anderson wrote that "at the Chamber we recognize that Delta is uniquely situated at the nexus of the international border with the United States for cross-border transport, Deltaport for international shipping, and on high quality agricultural land for food production. Tens of thousands of excellent jobs – many in the skilled trades and technology sector – are based here in Delta. These jobs represent numerous essential service industries and offer the opportunity for immediate training to re-skill workers (many of whom are frequently women, Indigenous, or racialized individuals who are under-represented in the sector) to fill needed positions and to provide employment for those whose industries may not recover in a timely or fulsome manner.

In addition to the existing opportunities Delta offers for jobs and re-training/re-skilling in the Trades & Technology sector, there is also significant opportunity to facilitate partnerships between Agriculture, Industry, and Academia in the development of innovative local Agritech start-ups. As you know, and have been advocating for some time now, Delta is uniquely positioned to be a leader in this developing field, and with the effects of COVID-19 on our supply chain, local food production and food security have never been more top-of-mind." 

Click here to read the full letter and visit the Advocacy section of our website to learn more about the work that the Delta Chamber is doing to ensure that the Voice of Business for Delta is heard by decision-makers in all levels of government.