I understand how much Hamilton businesses have struggled and sacrificed throughout the pandemic. This website will help you easily access all the financial support available. My office is here to help.
Donna Skelly, MPP Flamborough-Glanbrook
Review what you’ll need to apply
Ontario Small Business Support Grant
What You’ll Receive
- $10,000 grant for all eligible businesses (dollar for dollar funding)
- A maximum of $20,000
Eligibility
To receive the grant, a small business must:
- Be required to close or restrict services subject to the new Province wide Shutdown
- Have fewer than 100 employees at an enterprise level
- Have experienced a minimum of 20% revenue decline comparing April 2020 to April 2019 revenues
- New businesses established since April 2020 are also eligible
Property Tax & Energy Bill Rebates
What You’ll Receive
- Municipal and education property taxes
- Energy costs, including electricity and natural gas (or where natural gas is not available, propane and heating oil)
Funding will cover the entire length of time that regionally targeted public health restrictions are in place.
Eligibility
To receive the grant, a small business must:
- Businesses that are, or were, required to close or significantly restrict services as a result of being under control or lockdown restrictions in the COVID-19 response framework.
- Were required to close or significantly restrict services as a result of being under “modified Stage 2” restrictions in the previous framework
- Businesses will not be eligible if they are:
- within the areas subject to public health restrictions, but were not required to close or significantly restrict services or if they are owned by the federal, provincial, or a municipal government, or by a person holding federal or provincial office.
Funding For PPE Costs Rebates
Helping small businesses with unexpected costs of PPE
What You’ll Receive
- Eligible small businesses will get one-time grant of up to $1,000.
Eligibility
To be eligible, your business must have 2-9 employees and be in one of the following sectors:
- Retail
- Accommodation and food services
- Repair and maintenance
- Personal and laundry services
- Gyms and yoga studios

Digital Main Street
Programs for e-commerce
Shop Here
A program that provides independent small businesses and artists with a quick, easy and no-cost way to get selling online right away.
Ontario Grants Program
Providing main street businesses with $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants, and municipalities / local communities with grants to implement a Digital Service Squad.
The Future Proof Main Street
Program delivered in partnership with Communitech and Invest Ottawa helps businesses identify new markets, pivot their business model, and develop and implement a deep digital transformation plan.
Canada Emergency Business Account
CEBA
What You’ll Receive
- Provides interest-free loans of up to $60,000.
Eligibility
To receive the grant, a small business must:
- Business is registered with the CRA with an effective date of registration on or prior to March 1, 2020.
- Has an active business chequing/operating account.
- If borrower currently does not have a business chequing/operating account, they must create one at their primary financial institution before applying for CEBA.
- Intends to continue to operate its business or to resume operations.
- To apply for CEBA, businesses should contact their financial institution.
Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy
CERS
What You’ll Receive
- Provides easy-to-access rent and mortgage subsidy of up to 65% directly to tenants.
- Qualifying organizations that have been significantly restricted by a mandatory public health order can receive an additional 25% of rent support.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive the rent subsidy, you must meet all four of the following criteria:
- You had a CRA business number on September 27, 2020 OR;
- You had a payroll account on March 15, 2020, or another person or partnership made payroll remittances on your behalf OR;
- You purchased the business assets of another person or partnership who meets condition b above, and have made an election under the special asset acquisition rules OR;
- You meet other prescribed conditions that might be introduced
- Are an eligible business, charity, or non-profit (eligible entity)
- Experienced a drop in revenue
- Have eligible expenses
Regional Relief and Recovery Fund
RRRF
What You’ll Receive
- Provides liquidity support for fixed operating costs to maintain regular operations. For businesses and organizations that are unable to access other federal relief measures, or require additional support.
Eligibility
- A Canadian or provincially-incorporated business, co-operative, partnership or an Indigenous-owned business with 1 to 499 full-time equivalent employees; OR
- Organizations, including social enterprises, that are engaged in commercial activities as a significant portion of operations; OR
- Chambers of commerce, business or sector associations and other economic development organizations that provide support to businesses.
That meet the following:
- Facing funding pressures with fixed operating costs, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Have applied to other Government of Canada COVID-19 relief measures for which they are eligible
- Were operational prior to March 15, 2020;
- Are financially viable;
- Plan to continue to operate or resume operations; and
- Have an active business chequing/operating account.
Mental Health & Wellness Support
Services available online or by phone
Mental health, wellness and additions support is available.

What You’ll Need To Apply
Business & Banking Information
You will need your business and banking information to apply, including:
- General business information (for example, Canada Revenue Agency business number)
- Banking information (for example, banking institution, account number, branch code)
Receipts for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
You will need to submit receipts or proof of costs purchased since March 17, 2020
- This includes: gloves, gowns, face shields, eye protection, masks, sanitizer, thermometers, physical changes, signs to inform customers, etc.
Bills and/or Invoices
To apply you will have to submit proof of costs
- Property Tax Rebates: property tax bills or costs associated with property taxes
- Energy Cost Rebates: digital copy of the first energy bill you received on or after in your region