Dear Downtown Winnipeg BIZ Member,

Province announces new support program for businesses

On Wednesday, the Province announced the Sector Support Program for businesses impacted by the latest COVID-19 restrictions. The support would help approximately 1,800 businesses through various levels of available funding, depending on the number of employees on their last payrolls before the public health orders took effect on Dec. 21.

An online assessment tool will be available after the holidays, and until Jan. 31, 2022, to help business owners determine their level of eligibility for the Sector Support Program. We will share with you when the online assessment tool is available.

Businesses can apply for grants based on the number of full-time or part-time employees:

The program is available to businesses such as restaurants, hotels and bars that provide dine-in food services, fitness and recreation facilities, movie theatres, performance venues and museums.

Learn more about the Sector Support program on the Government of Manitoba’s website.

Federal government announces expansion of eligibility for key support programs

The Federal government announced Wednesday that it intends to expand eligibility to the Local Lockdown Program to provide businesses that face new local public health orders.

Under current rules, employers must face a full lockdown to be eligible for the program, but this expansion means employers can also qualify if they are faced with a capacity-limiting public health restriction of 50 per cent or more.

It also intends to temporarily lower the current-month revenue loss threshold from 40 per cent to 25 per cent.

These temporary changes would be in effect for qualifying periods from December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022 (Periods 24 and 25).

For more information on the Local Lockdown Program, read the Government of Canada’s Dec. 22 news release.

One more chance to take the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ member survey

The deadline to take the survey and enter the draw for a Downtown Winnipeg Gift Card has been extended to Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 10:00 p.m. This is our year-end survey and your input can help shape our work in 2022.

Fill out the short survey to let us know how the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ can help you in 2022 and where we can make the most impact.

Everyone who fills out the survey can enter a draw for a Downtown Winnipeg Gift Card.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions:
204-958-4640
info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com

Thank you,

Kate Fenske, CEO
Downtown Winnipeg BIZ