The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Salesforce to offer a $10,000 lifeline to help 62 small businesses recover from COVID-19 downturn.
The Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund is intended to provide small Canadian businesses from coast to coast to coast with $10,000 grants to help their recovery efforts during these unprecedented times. The applications that best demonstrate how the funds will help the businesses, their
employees and their communities will receive the funding, explained the two organizations in a news release.
“During the COVID-19 crisis, the Canadian Chamber’s mission is to help as many businesses as possible stay afloat and remain open. Small business owners put everything they have into their businesses, and these grants will help give a little bit back to them. Good people coming together is how Canadians have managed this crisis, and the Canadian Chamber and Salesforce are following their lead, one business at a time,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
“We care deeply about the challenges small businesses across Canada are facing as a result of the pandemic and recognize that they have been hit especially hard,” said Margaret Stuart, Canada Country Manager, Salesforce. “With this initiative, our focus is supporting the resilience of Canadian small businesses owners and helping them recover. Small businesses are some of Canada’s most innovative and hardworking communities, and it is our priority to help them get back to work safely and prepare for Canada’s next
normal.”
“Small business owners and entrepreneurs are innovative and resilient. To support the businesses who make our communities strong, our government has taken decisive action to help them keep their costs low, keep their teams together, and keep up with their operational expenses,” said Mary Ng, the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. “With the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Salesforce stepping up, even more small business owners are going to get the help they need at this critical
time. We’re all in this together, and we’re going to be here for small businesses every step of the way.”
The organizations said the grant will be targeted at small, for-profit businesses that have been operating for several years and are now experiencing challenges because of COVID-19. The application period
will open on June 1 on the CBRN website and will close on June 12. The successful applicants will be announced in late June to early July, with the funds being transferred to the successful applicants shortly thereafter.
