The Manitoba government is increasing its budget for the Manitoba Bridge Grant and making a third round of payments to help protect businesses in the province from the impacts of COVID-19.
Through a third round of payments, the province will provide up to $67 million in immediate support to eligible small and medium-sized businesses, not-for-profits and charities impacted by the #RestartMB Pandemic Response System. This brings the total program investment to $215 million, which is $15 million above the province’s original commitment of $200 million. The province has also extended the Manitoba Bridge Grant application deadline until March 31.
Eligible businesses that received a first and second bridge grant payment, each worth up to $5,000, will automatically receive a third equal payment beginning as early as Friday, March 5 and will be notified of the deposit via email. New program applicants will be eligible for a one-time immediate payment to a maximum of $15,000.
The province created the Manitoba Bridge Grant in November 2020 to provide $5,000 upfront to businesses, not-for-profits and charities directly affected by public health restrictions and temporarily ordered to close their storefronts to the public. It expanded the program Dec. 8, 2020, to support home-based businesses indirectly impacted by public health orders, offering up to $5,000 based on 10 per cent of their most recent calendar year revenues. The province expanded program eligibility Jan. 8 to include hotels, resorts, lodges and outfitters, travel agencies, janitorial services companies and owner/operators of licensed passenger transportation businesses that saw demand for their services impacted by public health orders.
More information about the Manitoba Bridge Grant is available at:
www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/programs/bridge-grant.html.
Businesses that require assistance in completing the online form can contact Manitoba Government Inquiry at 204-945-3744 or 1-866-MANITOBA (1-866-626-4862).