The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on businesses across Ontario. With recent public health measures requiring closures or reduced capacity for certain businesses, the financial burden on these establishments has only increased. To address this issue, the Ontario government has introduced the Business Costs Rebate Program, a small business cost rebate grant that provides financial support to eligible businesses affected by public health restrictions.
Eligible businesses will receive rebate payments for a portion of the property tax and energy costs they incur while subject to capacity limits or a requirement to temporarily close. The rebate amount will be 50% up to 100% of these costs depending on the degree to which the business is subject to public health restrictions. This program is targeted at businesses that are the most financially impacted by provincially mandated public health measures.
The following types of businesses are eligible for support:
Restaurants and bars
Personal care services relating to the hair or body
Retailers less than 50,000 sq ft (non-grocery, retail excluding alcohol)
Small grocery stores less than 5,000 sq ft
Gyms and other facilities used for indoor sports and recreational fitness activities (including indoor spectator sports)
Places of worship
Indoor meeting and event spaces available for rent
Indoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas
Casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
Indoor portion of horse and car racing tracks
Indoor museums, galleries, aquariums, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions
Indoor clubhouses at outdoor recreational amenities
Indoor business associated with tour and guide services
Oxygen bars
Steam rooms and saunas
Bathhouses and sex clubs
Indoor teaching and instruction centres (i.e., tutoring services)
Indoor driving instruction centres
Day camps and overnight camps for children
Before- and after-school programs
Pet and veterinary services
It's important to note that some business types have not been required to close or significantly restrict services during the entirety of provincial public health restrictions. The eligible number of energy billing cycles will reflect the actual period of time a business has been required to close or significantly restrict services.
If you're a business owner in one of the eligible categories, we encourage you to take advantage of this program to help alleviate some of the financial strain caused by public health measures.
Contact MyDreamFinance today to learn more about our rebate application services and how we can help your business succeed.
