Government Resources Archive - Web321: Your Best WordPress Support

Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) – Grow Your Business Online Grant by Small Business BC

Shawn DeWolfe — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 22:22:42 +0000

The Grow Your Business Online grant will help small businesses across British Columbia take advantage of e-commerce opportunities. Eligible businesses will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help with the costs related to adopting digital technologies such as a website or website improvements.

Grants will be available through Small Business BC. SBBC will also support a network of e-commerce advisors who will advise and help small businesses adopt e-commerce. The grant is administered by Small Business BC and is not administered by Digital Main Street.

If you want to talk about how can work together on your CDAP funded project, get in touch.

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Strategic Funds and Initiatives – Digital Generator

Shawn DeWolfe — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 22:04:44 +0000

Digital Generator is a short-term initiative to support Canadian arts groups, collectives, and organizations to build their digital capacity and transform their business model and operations. A digital approach can transform the way you operate and offers the opportunity to:

Deepen your organization’s relationship with the public and engage new audiences and markets
Collect and analyze data to gain insights into your public and understand your impact
Improve specific areas of business with digital technology to lower costs and increase efficiency
Generate new revenue streams
Collaborate and connect with others
Build new partnerships and networks to improve digital capacity
Transform your business model for long-term sustainability Digital Generator supports digital capacity building for Canadian arts groups and organizations.
This initiative offers 2 streams.

Stream 1 supports hiring external consultants or experts.
Stream 2 supports implementing recommendations from external consultants or experts. For example, deploying a web project to support your activities.

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Launch Online – Getting BC Businesses Online

Shawn DeWolfe — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 21:46:50 +0000

Applications have closed for this program. If you applied, the Launch Online program will let you know if your application was successful.
You could get your business online for less than $2500.

2020 was hard for retailers. We’re still in choppy waters in 2021. What was predicted to be a 5 to 7 year trend of online shopping adoption compressed into 2020. Many businesses adapted. If your business didn’t pivot and take it online, there’s still time! Better than that: there’s expertise in getting businesses online; and even better: there’s MONEY available to get your business online.

The Launch Online Grant program provides funding to B.C.-based business to create an online shop and/or improve their e-commerce experience to attract new local customers and expand to new markets. The grant will pay for up to 75% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $7,500 per business.

As part of the Province of BC’s Stronger BC Economic Recovery Plan, the Launch Online program has $12 million available o help businesses get their operations onto the Internet to spur business growth, drive economic development and provide support for small and medium sized businesses, including regional and Indigenous businesses. Throughout 2020, Web321 heard businesses when they needed to get online fast. We’re ready with a plan to build, manage and support your online business.

The program supports a rapid response for businesses and is accepting applications from businesses ready to start and finish their online shop within 12 weeks.

Up-to 25% of funds will be reserved for Indigenous businesses and businesses operating outside of the lower mainland and greater Victoria.
The funds must be used to hire a B.C.-based company to do the online store development. Web321 is a corporation in BC operating in Saanichton BC. We’re BC natives who understand the needs of BC based businesses and what makes BC based businesses special on the global stage.

We have a page dedicated to the BC Grant Program: Launch Online details.

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BC Government Recovery Grant

Shawn DeWolfe — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 23:02:09 +0000

The Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program provides fully funded grants to businesses to ensure they have the support they need during and beyond COVID-19.

How the program works

Grants of $10,000 to $30,000 are available to small and medium sized B.C. businesses impacted by COVID-19. An additional $5,000 to $15,000 grant is available to eligible tourism-related businesses.

The program runs until March 31, 2021 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.

The first step is to apply for funding online.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be asked to develop a recovery plan. Professional service providers are available to help businesses with the recovery plan as needed. More information is available in the application.

Once your recovery plan is submitted and reviewed, approved businesses will receive grant funding for their plan.

You may be asked to give information and documentation about your recovery efforts and how the grant funding was used.

How It Can Benefit The Tourism

Tourism-related businesses can qualify to receive up to $15,000 in additional funding if you are eligible for the base grant and meet the tourism grant top-up criteria.

To receive the tourism grant top-up, you must declare that a significant part of your business’s total goods or services are purchased by visitors.

Tourism-related businesses are those that cater to persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes. This is based on the definition of tourism from Statistics Canada.

Tourism sector businesses can include:

Transportation
Accommodation
Food and beverage services
Recreation
Entertainment services
Travel services

Accommodation includes:

Hotels
Inns
Lodges
Campsites
Recreational vehicle rentals
Other similar businesses

Accommodation excludes:

Long-term stays
Apartments
Condominium sub-leases
Home-stay arrangements
Vacation rentals

How To Use Your Funding

Funding can be used to implement the actions identified in your recovery plan. For example, you might propose to:

Provide new services to your customers
Modify your physical business location
Install new outdoor patio with social distancing barriers
Support your business moving online — Web321 can help!
Hire an online marketing service — Web321 can help!

Actions that your business had implemented prior to the StrongerBC announcement on September 17, 2020 are not eligible for funding.

Funds can be used to support fixed costs such as rent/lease or other overhead costs.

To apply, click here.

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Canada Summer Jobs

Shawn DeWolfe — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 22:44:56 +0000

Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

The Canada Summer Jobs program objectives align with the redesigned Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and are as follows:

provide quality work experiences for youth
respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers
provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills

The program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Funded employers are not restricted to hiring students — all youth aged 15 to 30 years may be eligible participants.

The applications period opened on December 21, 2020 and remains open to January 29, 2021. Applications are submitted online.

Youth is the target audience for these government-supported jobs. Youth is defined as ages 15 to 30 years.

Side note: we are using this program with the hopes of hiring women in STEM for an entry level position and introduce them to web design.

Helping small businesses during COVID:

Last year, in response to the COVID-19 situation, flexibilities were introduced to respond to the needs of employers and youth. As a response to the ongoing pandemic, similar (but not identical) temporary flexibility will be applied this year to help small businesses operate. These include:

a wage subsidy, so that private and public-sector employers can receive up to 75 percent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee (not-for-profit organizations will continue to receive 100 percent); note in 2020 the coverage was 100 percent for small business as well as non-profits, so this year more strength is sought in the businesses and organizations that apply;
an extension to the end date for employment to February 26, 2022;
allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.

The deadline is coming soon: January 29th, 2021.

To apply, go to the Government of Canada website.

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Government Support and Restart Help

Shawn DeWolfe — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:13:01 +0000

Government Overviews & Action Plans

BC’s Restart Plan (Government of B.C.)

COVID-19 Economic Response Plan (Government of Canada)

BC COVID-19 Action Plan (Government of B.C.)

BC Essential Services List (Government of B.C.)

Canadian Business Resilience Network (Canadian Chamber of Commerce)

Financial Support

BC Metis COVID-19 Business Support Programs (Metis Financial Corporation of BC)

Business Loans for Women (Women’s Enterprise Centre)

Business Resource Assistant (Community Futures Fraser Fort George)

Business Credit Availability Program (Export Development Canada)

Business Credit Availability Program & Canada Emergency Business Account (Government of Canada)

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) (Government of Canada)

Temporary 10% Wage Subsidy (Government of Canada)

Deferral of GST/HST Tax Remittances (Government of Canada)

Canada Revenue Agency Changes to Taxes and Benefits (Government of Canada)

Funding for Child Care Providers (Government of BC)

Launch Online Grant Program (Government of BC)

Launch Online Web Designer

Provincial Tax & Revenue Changes (Government of BC)

Emergency Loan Program (Community Futures Fraser Fort George)

Small Business Recovery Consulting Rebate (Northern Development Initiative Trust)

Small Business Loan (Business Development Bank of Canada)

Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant (Government of BC)

Working Capital Loan (Business Development Bank of Canada)

Purchase Order Financing (Business Development Bank of Canada)

Fleet Payment Plan Deferral (ICBC)

COVID-19 Relief Fund for Small Business (BC Hydro)

Communications & Marketing

Crisis Communications Plan (Canadian Chamber of Commerce)

Marketing Tips & Resources (Canadian Marketing Association)

Support for Individuals

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) (Government of Canada)

Increased Canada Child Tax Benefit (Government of Canada)

Mortgage Support (Government of Canada)

Canada Revenue Agency Changes to Taxes and Benefits (Government of Canada)

Emergency Benefit for Workers (Government of BC)

Climate Action Tax Credit (Government of BC)

Payment Plan Deferral (ICBC)

COVID-19 Relief Fund for Residential Customers (BC Hydro)

Tools and tips to resolve financial difficulties (CMHC)

Operational Support

Professional Business Advice for Women (Women’s Enterprise Centre)

COVID-19 Return to Safe Operations Guide (WorkSafeBC)

Opportunities for Canadian Manufacturers (Government of Canada)

Overview of the Work Sharing Program (Government of Canada)

Business Continuity Checklist (Government of BC)

Handling Absences & Disruptions (Government of BC)

Business Continuity Resources (Canadian Chamber of Commerce)

Practical Considerations for Business Resilience (MNP)

Preparing Your Organization for Business Interruption (MNP)

Templates & Downloads

Business Continuity Plan and Templates for Entrepreneurs (BDC)

Business Continuity & Recovery Plan Template (Canadian Chamber of Commerce)

Cash Flow Template (Women’s Enterprise Centre)

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Canada United Small Business Relief Fund (CUSBRF) Program

Shawn DeWolfe — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 01:14:06 +0000

Did you do a big spend this year to adapt to COVID-19. There may be money to help with the adjustment. The Canada United Small Business Relief Fund has received over $14 million in contributions to support small business recovery efforts.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to cover expenses for personal protective equipment (PPE), renovations to accommodate re-opening guidelines and developing or improving website and e-commerce capabilities.

Enhancement of website/ developing e-commerce capability

Enhancement of website/ e-commerce capability involves developing or upgrading a website to better serve customers and pivot business operations as a direct response to Covid -19. Detailed description of enhancements must be provided including quotes where applicable.

Enhancement of website – Expenses can include:

Creating or designing a website
Hiring external staff for copywriting to write/enhance descriptions found on the website
Having professional photos taken for products

E-commerce capability – Expenses can include:

The one-time set-up fee for online e-commerce transactions
Monthly fees (from March to September 2020) to support new e-commerce set up. Costs must be incremental – monthly costs associated with pre-existing e-commerce platforms are not eligible.
Webinar software to allow continued engagement with customers
Hardware allowing for touchless payment

Ineligible Costs and Expenses

The following costs are ineligible and will not be considered:

Taxes
Consulting fees
Business plans/strategic plans/feasibility studies/strategies etc.
Inventory costs
Employee wages
Existing operating costs
Office furniture
Laptops, headphones, printers, cables, etc.
Third-party delivery transaction fees
Renovations not required for social distancing
Social media advertising, posts, marketing etc.
Items purchased for resale
Recurring subscription fees/services implemented pre-COVID-19
General cleaning services

How to Submit an Application

All applications and supporting documentation must be completed and submitted online.

Steps:

Go to our web site at: https://occ.ca/canada-united-small-business-relief-fund/ and click on the link to access the application or you can also access the application by clicking on the application link located on your participating local or Provincial Chamber of Commerce’s site
Read the eligibility criteria and conditions for participation
Complete the form and click the “Submit” button. If the “Submit” button is not active, a required field has not been completed. Please complete the required field(s) and then re-click the submit button

[button link=”https://web321.co/services/plans-pricing/”]Get Started[/button]

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Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit

Shawn DeWolfe — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 23:07:57 +0000

The interactive digital media tax credit (IDMTC) is for eligible registered corporations that develop interactive digital media products in B.C. after August 31, 2010 and before September 1, 2023. Your corporation must register with the Ministry of Finance and pay the application fee for each tax year that it wants to claim the IDMTC.

The credit is calculated as 17.5% of eligible salary and wages incurred in the tax year.

Budget 2017 Update amended the IDMTC program to:

Allow eligible business corporations participating in the Small Business Venture Capital Program to claim the credit for tax years that end on or after February 22, 2017.
Allow corporations whose annual qualifying B.C. labour expenses exceed $2 million to claim the credit, even if their principal business is not the development of interactive digital media products, for tax years that end on or after February 22, 2017.

What is an Interactive Digital Media Product?

An interactive digital media product (IDM product) is designed to be used interactively by an individual and:

Consists of a combination of application files and data files, in a digital format, that are integrated and are intended to be operated together,
Is designed primarily to educate, inform or entertain the user,
Is capable of presenting information in at least two of the following forms:
- Text
- Sound
- Images
Is intended to be used interactively by individuals, and
Is developed in British Columbia

but does not include a prescribed product.

Some examples of IDM products are:

Video games
Educational software
Edutainment products
Simulators

For the purpose of the IDMTC, products that are not intended to be used interactively, such as blogs, online magazines or newspapers, slide shows, videos or PowerPoint presentations, video streaming applications, and social media products are not IDM products.

Learn more about the IDMTC and the IDMTC for augmented reality and virtual reality products

Claiming the Credit

Claim the credit no later than 18 months after the end of the tax year in which the eligible salaries and wages are incurred. The credit is fully refundable, but is first applied against total income tax payable. There are no carry-back or carry-forward provisions.

Claim the credit by completing Schedule 429, British Columbia Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit and then entering the amount of the credit on line 680 of Schedule 5, Tax Calculation Supplementary – Corporations. You’ll need to submit both schedules with your T2 Corporation Income Tax Return.

Legislation

The following legislation applies to the interactive digital media tax credit program:

Income Tax Act (B.C.) Part 10
Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit Regulation

More Information

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Digital Adoption Program

Shawn DeWolfe — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 22:16:37 +0000

Keep pace with the changing nature of business.

The Digital Adoption Program supports Nova Scotia businesses to rapidly adopt digital tools and innovations to manage through impacts related to COVID-19. The Program provides financial incentives to Nova Scotia small businesses to:

Build or improve their online presence to retain and create new sales opportunities and improve firm resilience and flexibility to keep pace with the changing nature of business; and
Adopt digital tools and implement process improvements related to e-commerce solutions and to support remote working.

The Program contributes up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $10,000 CAD. Minimum project cost is $2,000 CAD.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

be a Nova Scotia registered business in good standing (current registration on the Registry of Joint Stock Companies; federally registered businesses with a head office registered in Nova Scotia may be eligible) with less than 100 FTEs in Nova Scotia
have a permanent establishment in Nova Scotia
the majority of its workforce currently residing in Nova Scotia
have a product/service with the potential to be sold outside of Nova Scotia

Important Dates

Applications for the Digital Adoption Program are accepted between June 15, 2020 and September 30, 2020. Applications must be received no later than 5:00pm (Atlantic Standard Time) on September 30, 2020. Claims for applications submitted from June 15 to August 12 must be submitted by November 30, 2020. Claims for applications submitted from August 13 to September 30, 2020 must be submitted by January 15, 2021. Failure to adhere to these deadlines will result in the project claim being denied.

Before You Apply

Please read the following prior to applying:

Project funding is discretionary and will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Online Form Features

During the online application or claim process, you will be asked to review and update the basic company information we have on file. This will ensure we have the most up-to-date information for processing your submissions.

As you complete the forms your responses are saved as a draft. This allows you to step away and resume later. To pick up where you left off, you will be sent an application number via email to access your draft. This feature also allows you to review your responses with your Regional Business Development Advisor prior to submitting.

To continue with this program: Digital Adoption Program

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Financial support for technology innovation through NRC IRAP

Shawn DeWolfe — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 22:13:41 +0000

Contact

Call IRAP toll-free at 1-877-994-4727 to learn more about NRC IRAP.

Share your feedback

We want to provide you with the best possible service. Follow the NRC IRAP feedback process to let us know how we can improve.

Fuel your innovation

If you’re a small or medium‑sized Canadian business pursuing technology‑driven innovation, you may be eligible for financial support from NRC IRAP. We provide this funding to eligible firms under our technology innovation projects and youth employment strategy programs.

NRC IRAP provides funding to support research and development projects at various stages of the innovation cycle. In 2018‑2019, NRC IRAP was mandated to expand its support to include an increased funding threshold of up to $10 million for larger research and development projects. This increased funding support will make it easier for small and medium‑sized Canadian businesses to access the support they need to grow and expand their companies.

Working as an extension of traditional NRC IRAP support, the additional funding for larger research and development projects is targeted toward firms that will have demonstrated to the program the ability to grow rapidly and significantly. These firms will be identified by NRC IRAP with the objective to help recipients of this increased funding threshold achieve transformative growth within 5 years of completing their project and, in so doing, significantly benefit Canada’s economy.

Am I eligible for financial support?

If you meet the following criteria, connect with NRC IRAP by calling 1-877-994-4727 to find out if your business is eligible for NRC IRAP support:

you are an incorporated, profit-oriented small or medium-sized business in Canada
you have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees
you plan to pursue growth and profit by developing and commercializing innovative, technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes in Canada

What happens next?

If we determine that NRC IRAP support could benefit your development and growth strategies, we will refer you to an industrial technology advisor (ITA).

Understanding your business

Your ITA may meet with you in person to understand your business in more detail, including your business strategy, the issues you face, opportunities for growth and your plans for the future. This information will help the ITA develop a diagnostic to identify perceived gaps and recommend strategies for addressing them.

Developing a project proposal

Following your ITA’s assessment of your business and proposed project, they may invite you to develop a project proposal for financial support through NRC IRAP. We will assess your proposal within three months, taking into consideration:

the project’s technical aspects and potential impacts on your business
your business, management, and financial capacity
your assessed potential to achieve expected results
your commercialization plan
the overall market and commercialization opportunity
the anticipated benefits to Canada

If successful, you’ll receive the financial contribution to share the costs of your R&D project activities, and you will need to submit monthly reimbursement claims to NRC IRAP. Your ITA will support you throughout your project.

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