North Okanagan small businesses & non-profits can apply for Regional Relief and Recovery Fund’s loans of up to $40,000 to cover expenses incurred during COVID-19

VERNON, BC—The rent while doors were closed. The cleaning supplies. The fees to create an online store. These are just some of the COVID-19 operating expenses some small businesses and non-profit organizations can now receive lending for through the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF).

“This is a fund for non-profits and all the other businesses that may have fallen through the cracks and not qualified for the federal government’s wage subsidy or Canada Emergency Business Account,” says Michele Hill, chair of the board of directors for Community Futures North Okanagan, which will be administering the fund for Western Economic Diversification Canada. CFNO is now accepting applications.

The federal fund provides loans of up to $40,000 to non-profits and small and medium-sized businesses located in non-metropolitan areas that were negatively impacted by COVID-19, and have costs that have not been covered by other COVID-19 supports. Expenses incurred during this period that are eligible include lease payments, rent, salaries and benefits, property taxes, utilities, bank charges and interest, office supplies, vehicle supplies and more.

“This funding will go such a long way to help cover some pretty big expenses incurred at a time when many of these businesses  and organizations were seeing just a fraction of their normal revenue,” says Kazia Mullin, Business Services Manager. “It could be a lifeline for the many social enterprises and small and family-owned businesses that didn’t meet criteria for other government supports.”

Early COVID-19 federal lending assistance programs had requirements that excluded sole proprietor businesses and businesses without staff or a certain annual payroll minimum, and this is the first federal lending program to include non-profits.

Scot McNair, Business Loans Advisor at CFNO, says he’s looking forward to helping local organizations and ‘mom and pop’ stores get back on their feet.

“The RRRF really targets many of those family businesses as well as non-profits that are a big part of our community, and we’re glad to be able to bring them this support,” says McNair, adding he encourages businesses to apply soon as they are expecting many applications and the RRRF funds for each community are limited.

The RRRF repayment terms include no interest and no payments through to Dec. 31, 2022. If 75 per cent of the loan is repaid by Dec. 31, 2022, the remainder is forgiven. Payments begin January 2023 and loans must be repaid by Dec. 31, 2025 and there are no prepayment penalties.

To learn more about the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, and to apply, visit https://www.futuresbc.com/regional-relief-and-recovery-fund/  For more information, contact Scot McNair at ­­­­250-545-2215  Ext. 249.

-30-

ABOUT COMMUNITY FUTURES NORTH OKANAGAN

Community Futures North Okanagan is a not-for-profit organization that supports economic development projects and helps our business community, job-seekers, and employers succeed. As a community-based organization with roots in Vernon dating back to 1984, Community Futures acts as a leader to create opportunities for growth and success across the North Okanagan. A team of nearly 45 staff provides workshops, programs, and services for three departments: Business Services, Employment Services, and Economic Development. Visit www.futuresbc.com to learn more.

---