We're compiling a list of initiatives and resources, and will continue to edit as things develop.
Buying Local
Local businesses need your dollars more than ever. Check out these sites on how to purchase from local stores and restaurants:
Delivery from Local Businesses
YVR Local Delivery is a list of businesses in many categories offering home delivery.
Canadian Indie Bookstores identifies independent bookstores in your community, and across the country.
Get Groceries is an initiative of Fat Cow & Oyster Bar (Langley) to deliver local produce, protein and prepared goods from local farmers and manufacturers.
BeerVan offers craft brew, kombucha and ginger beer deliveries from Vancouver's local breweries. Delivery to Vancouver, Burnaby, New West & North Van.
Delivery/Take Out from Local Restaurants & Food Producers
Breaking Bread is a comprehensive list of food businesses offering take-out, delivery and more.
Silver Lining let's you order meals or subscription meals from participating East Van restaurants including: Bandidas, Dosanko, Jamjar, Kin Kao & Sopra Sotto
Good to Grow online purchasing platform for local food producers.
BC Farmer's Markets is helping local farmer's markets to create an online purchasing platform. Stay tuned.
Gift Card & Merch Purchasing for Gifts, Current/Future Use
SupportLocalBC allows you to purchase gift cards from businesses in many areas of the Province for future use.
SupportYYJ allows you to purchase gift cards from businesses in Victoria for future use.
Buy Now Shop Later allows consumers to buy gift cards from businesses on the Sunshine Coast.
Vancouver Strong allows consumers to buy branded merchandise cards from their favourite local businesses to support them during the crisis. They also sell "Vancouver Strong" t-shirts in support of the Canadian Centre for Disease Control.
Business Resources
Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses.
Government of Canada 75% wage subsidy for small and medium sized businesses.
BC's Reopening Plan Guidelines: BC COVID-19 Go Forward Strategy. Guidelines for re-opening in various sectors and Go Forward Management Checklist.
FREE face masks for small businesses.
Webnames.ca is offering free 1-page websites for small businesses for one year.
Vancity Community Portal provides a list of support programs for businesses and non-profits.
The BC Economic Development Association has developed a COVID-19 guide for businesses.
Small Business BC has launched a B.C. Business COVID-19 Support Service to serve as a single point of contact for businesses throughout the province looking for information on resources available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advisors are available Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Pacific time) and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 1 833 254-4357 or email covid@smallbusinessbc.ca. Live chat is available on their dedicated website.
Small Business BC has also launched an online marketplace for small businesses across B.C. to promote their goods and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City of Vancouver has launched the COVID-19 Business Communications and Support Office to offer a single point of contact for Vancouver’s local business owners to:
- Get information about business support programs
- Learn what City services for businesses are currently up-and-running
- Make suggestions to the City about business and the economy
BC Hydro will waive fees for up to three months for affected small businesses. Application opens the week of April 13th.
Futurpreneur has a new support package that will cover loan payments for six months for each of its more than 3,200 Start-up Program clients whose Futurpreneur loan was disbursed prior to April 1, 2020. This loan payment coverage is effective March 25 through to September 24, 2020, and comes at a crucial time for thousands of young entrepreneurs across Canada whose small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to the six-month loan payment coverage, for existing eligible Futurpreneur clients who require extra working capital to help cover operating costs during this challenging period and do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Business Account, Futurpreneur will offer a top-up loan of up to $10,000, interest-free, with one year of deferred repayment.
Advocacy for Direct Support
SaveSmallBusiness.ca links to some great articles, recommends three policy measures, asks that you share your story, and is collecting signatures on a petition for non-debt solutions for small business:
- Pause Rent April 1: Mandate the first $10,000 of commercial rent is waived for 3 months and give landlords the support they need to make it happen.
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Keep Our Staff Together: Increase the wage subsidy to 80%, so small businesses have staff when we’re ready to restart our economy.
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Defer Debt Obligations: Give us a breather from both principal and interest payments on all of our loans. Give our landlords the same support so they can waive our rent.
Here's a great article that proposes deferred costs for small businesses in the short term, and a letter to MPs proposing direct support policy measures.
Advertising
The Tyee is offering small and local businesses free display advertising to businesses affected by the shutdowns, to encourage people to buy gift cards or somehow support local businesses. Here's some info on their audience and display advertising options. If you are interested, please fill out this application. Once approved, they’ll be in touch via email to get ad creatives. They are offering one week of remnant advertising, 3 sizes of ads, and we'll run maximum 4 business' ads per week, to ensure people get a decent share of impressions.
Facebook has launched a $100M small business grant program offering cash grants and ad credits to affected small businesses.
Help Line
The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses has launched a COVID-19 Small Business Help Centre for members and non-members.
Grants & Financing
Facebook has launched a $100M small business grant program offering cash grants and ad credits to affected small businesses.
The Business Development Bank of Canada offers financing options for businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis.