The Manitoba Bridge Grant will provide an immediate one-time payment of $5,000 to small and medium-sized businesses, not-for-profit and charitable organizations that were directly ordered to temporarily cease operations or close their publicly accessible physical locations by Manitoba COVID-19 public-health orders in effect on Nov. 12. This includes restaurants, bars, beverage rooms, brewpubs, microbreweries, distilleries, casinos, recreation and sport facilities, museums and galleries, theatres and concert halls, as well as organizations like charities, not-for-profits and faith-based organizations that have been adversely impacted.
The Manitoba Bridge Grant has the capacity to be extended automatically Jan. 1, 2021, to provide an additional $5,000 to each organization should these public health orders remain in place. If required, the province would automatically process the second payment at that time with no further actions required from applicants. A January payment would increase the program total up to $200 million for impacted businesses.
The premier said the province is asking business groups for input on long-term recovery funding to encourage the long-term sustainability and adaptation of Manitoba businesses coming out of COVID-19. He invited organizations such as the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) and Economic Development Winnipeg to provide a detailed plan to government in January and committed to initial supporting funds of up to $50 million. Take MCC’s 2020 Manitoba Business Outlook Survey Here.
The application form is now live for the Manitoba Bridge Grant, which provides a $5,000 grant upfront to eligible small and medium-sized businesses and organizations that were required to fully close their premises to the public because of Manitoba COVID-19 public health orders in effect as of Nov. 12.
The list includes non-essential retailers, restaurants, bars, beverage rooms, brewpubs, microbreweries, distilleries, recreation and sport facilities, museums and galleries, theatres and concert halls, not-for-profit organizations, faith-based organizations and registered charities. The full list and application criteria is available on the program page at:
www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/programs/bridge-grant.html.
The deadline for applications is Dec. 15.