Federal government replaces rent support program for businesses
Effective November 23, small businesses can start applying for the new CERS program offering rent and mortgage interest subsidies to eligible commercial renters and property owners.
Unlike the CECRA program its replacing, CERS allows small businesses, charities and not-for-profits that have suffered a revenue drop due to the pandemic to apply directly for help rather than rely on their landlords to apply on their behalf.
More information on CERS
According to the federal government, the program – in place until June 2021 – will subsidize up to a maximum of 65 per cent of rent, commercial mortgage interest, and other expenses on a sliding scale based on revenue declines, with a possible additional 25 per cent lockdown support for businesses affected by a public health order.
There is no minimum revenue drop required to qualify for the subsidy, however this new program is only retroactive to September 27, 2020. It doesn’t help companies that would have qualified for CECRA if their landlords had chosen to apply.
It also has a current requirement that businesses pay their rents before applying, which the federal government has indicated it will change with new legislation.
Additional links:
For ongoing FVREB updates on COVID-19, please visit:
http://news.fvreb.bc.ca/category/member-updates/covid-19-updates/
Source: FVREB Communications