QUEEN's PARK — The Ontario government has announced the Northern Ontario Recovery Program (NORP) to help businesses adapt to COVID-19 public health guidelines.
Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford made the announcement Monday at Queen's Park.
Starting Thursday, Oct. 1, companies can apply for grants of up to $25,000 to help offset expenses related to the impact of COVID-19 including:
- building renovations and new construction
- customer and employee safety installations
- equipment purchases including PPE
- marketing for new business initiatives
- restructuring of business operations
Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31.
"There is no denying that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on businesses throughout Northern Ontario and this program will deliver targeted funding so they can continue to serve communities," Rickford said.
The program will be administered by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
Other NOHFC program streams will close for applications on Wednesday, a government statement said, to allow NOHFC to focus exclusively on the NORP program.
Rickford also announced plans for what he described as a new and improved NOHFC program to be launched in January 2021.
He said it will make it easier for more people and businesses to apply and support more projects in rural northern communities.
The minister said it will target both existing and emerging market opportunities, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people, and address the skilled labour shortage in the north.