Relief
Ontario offers several programs to support small business during COVID-19. PPE support, property tax and energy bill rebates as well as the upcoming Ontario Small Business Support Grant. Visit this link to find out more! https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs
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Adapting to Online Technology
With the current Provincial shutdown, some businesses may be reevaluating their position on selling or marketing online. Below are two programs administered through Blue Sky Net our local Information and Communication Technology Network program. Blue Sky Net has two programs that could benefit your business, the COVID-19 Technology Adoption Fund (CTAF) had previously exhausted its fund, but a notification today has advised us that they are now accepting new applications for a limited time. The second program is the ongoing Business Technology Improvement Fund (BTIF).
The COVID-19 Technology Adoption Fund is accepting new applications for a limited time.
CTAF will provide eligible businesses, start-ups, municipalities, and Indigenous communities across Northern Ontario access to capital grant funding to acquire digital technology and e-business and marketing solutions to ensure they can survive and adapt to the challenges presented by COVID-19. CTAF will provide up to $10,000 in capital grants for eligible businesses and projects.
Submission and completion time is short and funds are limited, so please ensure to submit your application as soon as possible. To learn more about CTAF and apply, visit: www.blueskynet.ca/ctaf.
The Business Technology Improvement Fund
BTIF is a FedNor-funded initiative which assists businesses develop their capacity for e-business and in effect their ability to compete and thrive in the digital age. Blue Sky Net, through BTIF, is committed to helping small-to-medium-sized businesses in the Blue Sky Net region within Northeastern Ontario who are looking to enhance their capacity for business technology and their ability for technology adoption. The BTIF grant helps to alleviate the costs of implementing innovative technology solutions for your business that will help take you to the next level.
- Assistance and consultation throughout the application process.
- Access to training to prepare for E-business applications.
- A list of Northern Ontario vendors to select from.
- Through BTIF, businesses could be eligible to receive up to a maximum of $5,000.00 to adopt broadband and e-business and marketing solutions, including websites, and up to $25,000.00 to acquire digital technology such as software and in each scenario would be required to contribute a minimum 50% toward the project.