The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the leading business association of Canada, has announced a new program in association with Salesforce, the world’s number 1 customer relationship management giant.
Titled the Canadian Business Resilience Network Small Business Relief Fund, this program will provide small Canadian businesses with $10,000 grants to help their recovery efforts during these unprecedented times marked by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The initiative will assist 62 small Canadian businesses to recover and support their resilience with a support of $620,000 in funds. These funds can be utilized by businesses to support their recovery efforts, including paying salaries, replenishing materials or paying for the measures required to adapt business models to the economic impacts of COVID-19, acquiring safety and personal protective equipment for staff, among other key priorities.
“During the COVID-19 crisis, the Canadian Chamber’s mission is to help as many businesses as possible stay afloat and remain open. Small business owners put everything they have into their businesses, and these grants will help give a little bit back to them. Good people coming together is how Canadians have managed this crisis, and the Canadian Chamber and Salesforce are following their lead, one business at a time,” said Perrin Beatty, President, and CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
“We care deeply about the challenges small businesses across Canada are facing as a result of the pandemic and recognize that they have been hit especially hard,” said Margaret Stuart, Canada Country Manager, Salesforce. “With this initiative, our focus is supporting the resilience of Canadian small business owners and helping them recover. Small businesses are some of Canada’s most innovative and hardworking communities, and it is our priority to help them get back to work safely and prepare for Canada’s next normal.”
“Small business owners and entrepreneurs are innovative and resilient. To support the businesses that make our communities strong, our government has taken decisive action to help them keep their costs low, keep their teams together, and keep up with their operational expenses,” said Mary Ng, the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. “With the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Salesforce stepping up, even more, small business owners are going to get the help they need at this critical time. We’re all in this together, and we’re going to be here for small businesses every step of the way.”
The application period will open on June 1, 2020, on the CBRN website and will close on June 12, 2020.
