Small and medium-sized businesses, as well as non-profit organizations, can access a variety of funding through the Provincial and Federal government, supporting operations, business growth, and more.
Most recently, the Government of BC announced new funding to support small businesses in recovering expenses incurred after experiencing property damage due to crime and vandalism, and to recoup expenses after taking measures to prevent vandalism. Applications for the Securing Small Business Rebate Program, which will provide $10.5 million in funding, are set to open in fall 2023.
Additional programs and grants offered by the government support several tourism-related industries, including arts and culture. The Tourism Events Program, for example, supports the marketing and growth of events with funding for up to 10% of an event's total budget (minimum of $10,000 up to a maximum of $250,000 per event).
Through Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), the Government of Canada offers support for businesses and non-profit organizations. For instance, the organization is accepting expressions of interest for its Business Scale-up and Productivity program, which supports high-growth businesses that are scaling up and producing innovative goods, services or technologies, until 12 p.m. PST on September 22, 2023. There are several focus areas that may be given preference, including value-added agriculture and agritech. Additional information on this and other federal programs can be found on the PacifiCan website, as well as the Business Grants and Funding section of the Government of Canada website.
Destination BC has also compiled an extensive list of external funding sources available to tourism-related businesses and non-profit organizations.
