ELIGIBLITY WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY FAQS APPLICATION FR

Was your business impacted by the 2022 demonstrations?

The West Windsor Small Business Relief Fund offers targeted financial relief to businesses in Windsor's west end that were directly and negatively impacted by the demonstrations near the Ambassador Bridge in February 2022 and resulting nearby road closures. Thanks to the support from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), funding is available to support eligible and impacted businesses.

Eligible businesses can apply for a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 to manage certain operational costs incurred during the blockade that are not covered by other government programs.

These include utilities, insurance, bank charges, loss of inventory (e.g., spoiled food), wages, rent, and other extraordinary costs related to the repair or protection of a business due to the demonstrations.

Applications open April 1, 2022. Funds will be distributed to eligible businesses on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are exhausted. Do not delay in applying as funds are limited. The deadline to apply is May 27, 2022 (or until all funds are exhausted).

Monies received by businesses are non-reimbursable.

Begin Online Application

The application will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Be prepared to complete the online application in one sitting. It is not possible to save the application mid-process and return to it later. Make sure you have all necessary info and documents ready before starting.

Verify

Verify that your business is eligible to receive funds

Complete the seven steps of the online application

Complete the 6-step online application

Dollar sign

Receive funds directly in your business bank account

Is your business eligible?

What businesses are eligible?

If your business has fewer than 100 employees working at the affected location, provides in-person services, had planned on operating during the demonstrations but was limited or unable to do so, and is in one of the impacted areas along Huron Church Road and surrounding area, it’s likely that your business is eligible.

Eligible businesses must:

Be a for-profit entity
Provide in-person services
Have a valid Canada Revenue Agency business number
Have an active Canadian business bank account

The impacted business location must:

Have fewer than 100 employees
Be located in one of the identified areas (see map and list of postal codes)
Have intended to provide in-person services during the demonstrations
Be open and providing in-person services today

See the FAQs for more details

Business owner

What you need to apply

You will be required to upload some documents:

A void cheque or bank letter that includes your business name and confirms details of your bank account
A screenshot from your CRA account to confirm your 9-digit business number
A picture of your office or storefront that confirms that your business is currently operational

You will be required to provide the following:

A description and calculation of the eligible costs your business incurred between January 31, 2022 and February 18, 2022
Details about your business, including address, business type, contact information, and banking details

You will be asked to agree to certain legal obligations:

Consent and privacy notice
Legal requirements as defined by the funders
An attestation to confirm your business is eligible for the funding
An attestation to confirm the amount of eligible costs

See the FAQs for more details

Frequently Asked Questions

Overview of the program

What is the West Windsor Small Business Relief Fund?

The West Windsor Small Business Relief Fund is designed to provide targeted relief to businesses in Windsor's west end that were directly and negatively impacted by the recent demonstrations near the Ambassador Bridge in February 2022. The Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) is providing funding for this relief effort.

How much funding can I apply for?

You can apply for a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $10,000 based on total eligible costs (before HST).

How do I know if my business was "directly and negatively impacted" by the demonstrations?

Directly and negatively impacted by the demonstrations means having suffered the losses covered by this Fund as a result of the demonstrations themselves, such as being unable to open, having reduced hours of operation, having customers unable to reach you, or having safety concerns, or as a result of actions of the participants in the demonstrations.

How are the funds being distributed?

Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are exhausted. If your application is approved, the funds will be issued via a direct deposit to your business bank account.

Which areas of Windsor will be included in this Fund?

If your business is physically located in one of the affected postal codes, you may be eligible to apply. You will need to ensure you are eligible according to all other eligibility criteria, including that your business location postal code aligns with the approved list.

Business eligibility criteria

Is my business eligible to apply?

You will need to check off all requirements in the lists below and attest that they are true and accurate. Your attestation will become part of a legally binding agreement once your application has been accepted by Invest WindsorEssex.

In a nutshell: You need to be a small business that follows all laws and suffered direct and negative impacts due to the demonstrations.

My business:

☑ Is a for-profit entity

☑ Was directly and negatively impacted by the demonstrations in Windsor in February 2022 by being unable to operate at normal levels (unable to open; reduced hours of operation; customers unable to reach me; safety concerns)

☑ Is physically located within the most impacted areas (see What You Need to Apply for a map and list of eligible postal codes)

☑ Employs between 1-100 employees at the location in the impacted area (or is an owner-operated business without employees)

☑ Was intending to provide in-person services during the demonstrations (and could not transition to virtual services in the short-term)

☑ Is open and providing in-person services at the time of application

☑ Will not use the funds to duplicate relief support received through other federal, provincial, or municipal relief measures

☑ Will not claim any ineligible expenses in this application

☑ Is in compliance with all federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and other applicable laws governing the Business or related to the non-repayable contribution, or both, including without limitation, statutes, regulations, by-laws, rules, ordinances, decrees, and business operating licenses

☑ Has a valid business number assigned by the Canada Revenue Agency

☑ Has an active Canadian business chequing/operating account

My business is NOT:

☑ A home-based business (except those that provide in-person services)

☑ A landlord that does not operate a business out of the physical address

☑ A contractor that does not have a physical storefront (e.g. construction tradesmen, Uber drivers, etc.)

☑ Being prosecuted for illegal activity

How are the "impacted areas" defined?

The impacted areas are defined as those that were most directly and negatively impacted by the demonstrations. These includes businesses with a postal code beginning with N9A, N9B, N9C and N9E that are also located within the defined map boundaries.

I run a business out of my home, am I eligible to apply?

If you run a home-based business that provides in-person services in one of the impacted areas and your business is in compliance with all other eligibility criteria, you are eligible to apply.

How is home-based business defined?

Home-based business means a business that operates out of the business owner’s residence.

How are in-person services defined?

In-person services means services that are wholly or mainly provided by your business to your customers face-to-face and that cannot be wholly provided by other means including virtually.

I have more than 100 people employed at the business location in the impacted area, is my business eligible?

This relief fund was designed to support small businesses with less than 100 employees, as established by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario. Businesses with more than 100 people employed at the location in the impacted area are not eligible to apply.

I own a franchise in one of the impacted areas and have fewer than 100 people employed at this location, am I eligible to apply?

If you are a franchise owner with fewer than 100 people employed at the business location in one of the impacted areas, and your business complies with all other eligibility criteria, then you are eligible to apply.

Can I submit more than one application if I own more than one small business?

If you own more than one business (as defined by a unique 9-digit business number assigned by CRA) that comply with all other eligibility criteria, you may apply for each business.

Funding details

What are the eligible expenses I can claim?

Security - Costs directly related to securing your business during the demonstrations. This can include any extraordinary costs related to the repair or protection of your business during the demonstrations (e.g. hiring additional security personnel, security improvements to the physical location (e.g. boarding up windows, etc.), signage or barricades, costs for staff counselling/wellness, etc.).  
Inventory - This would reimburse losses and/or replacement costs due to inventory damaged or spoiled (food supplies, etc.) due to the economic disruption caused by the demonstrations.
Operating - Non-deferrable fixed operating costs. This can include but would not be limited to: bank interest charges, utilities, insurance, professional fees, and wages and rent. (Note: wages and rent costs must be within the government stacking limit of no more than 100 percent, if you are in receipt of other federal government supports).

All eligible costs should be aligned to their eligibility category, with a total per category entered.

Do I need to provide receipts/invoices?

You will not be required to provide receipts or invoices at the time of your application. Instead, you will need to attest to your business’s eligible costs grouped by three categories. You will need to keep all supporting receipts/invoices that you used to calculate the eligible costs on file for seven (7) years should you be selected for an audit.

What costs are ineligible to claim?

The following are ineligible costs for the West Windsor Small Business Relief Fund:

Paying or refinancing existing debts, including contributing to monthly mortgage or loan payments;
Tax payments;
Repayments to other programs;
Sales and marketing expenses;
Purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE);

General cleaning supplies;
Transaction/merchant fees;
Dividends to shareholders;
Executive compensation/benefit (including bonuses);
Capital expenditures and leasehold improvements unrelated to the impact of the demonstrations; and,

Any expenses that violate Public Health guidance and regulations related to COVID-19.

I have been notified that my application was approved. When will I receive the funding?

You may expect payment within three (3) weeks from submission. However due to high demand, it could take longer to see the funds in your account.

Will there be tax implications for the funding I could receive?

There may be tax implications for your business or for you as an individual; you should obtain advice from a qualified tax professional to determine the exact tax implications relevant to you and/or your business.

Will my business be audited if I receive this funding?

Invest WindsorEssex or the Minister representing FedDev Ontario may audit, or cause to have audited (select an independent auditor) your business accounts and records, and may access your premises, books, and accounts to confirm that the funding provided to you met applicable eligibility criteria.

In addition, the Auditor General of Canada may audit, or cause to have audited (by a 3rd party auditor) your business accounts and records.

Details about the online application

What documents and information will I be required to provide at the time of the application?

Please consult the What You Need to Apply checklist on our website to ensure you have everything ready.

In the application, you will be required to upload the following documents:

A void cheque or bank letter that includes your business name and confirms details of your bank account

A screenshot from your CRA account to confirm your 9-digit business number
A picture of your office or storefront that confirms that your business is currently operational (A picture taken with your smartphone will provide the metadata needed to confirm when and where the photo was taken)

You will also be asked to provide:

A description and calculation of the eligible costs your business incurred during the demonstrations between January 31, 2022 and February 18, 2022, from a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 (before taxes). These will be broken down into the three (3) categories: security, lost inventory, and operating costs

You will need to keep all supporting receipts/invoices that you used to calculate the eligible costs on file for seven (7) years in case you are selected for audit

Details about your business, including address, business type, contact information, and banking details; this enables us to make the deposit if your application is approved

When is my application due?

Applications open April 1, 2022 and close when all funds are allocated but no later than May 27, 2022. The funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, therefore we recommend you do not delay in applying.

What is metadata?

Photo metadata is specific information and details concerning a particular image file. A photo taken from a mobile phone will typically contain information such as the date created, author, file name, and location the photo was taken. This information will be used to help validate that your business is currently operational. As such, you will need to take a new picture on the date of application of your office or storefront to support your application.

What does the self-attestation in the application mean?

Attesting to the information about your business means that you confirm that the information you provide in the application is true and accurate. The attestation in the application form will become a legally binding agreement between your business and Invest WindsorEssex and can be subject to an audit for up to seven (7) years after the funding is received.

What is meant by a business "being prosecuted for illegal activity" in the self-attestation?

Being prosecuted for an illegal activity means: being charged with a crime under any law. Illegal activity refers to any activity not in compliance with an applicable law, including all federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and other applicable laws governing your business or related to the funding, or both. Applicable law includes statutes, regulations, by-laws, rules, ordinances, decrees, and business operating licenses.

What does it mean to "duplicate relief support" in the self-attestation?

This means that your business will not receive relief funds that exceed 100% of the costs you have incurred.

For example, if you receive relief support from another federal, provincial, or municipal relief program that covers 100% of your staff wages, you would not be able to claim those same staff wages under this Fund. But, if you receive relief that covers only 50% of those staff wages, you could claim the other 50% under this Fund so long as your business and the costs meet all other eligibility criteria.

Who will review my application?

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre team at Invest WindsorEssex will review your application. You may receive correspondence directly from Invest WindsorEssex about the eligibility of your business.

Is there anything else you may ask me to provide in support of my application?

Invest WindsorEssex may request additional information from you to help assess your business’s eligibility to receive funding from the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario.

Can I start my application, save it, and come back to it?

You will NOT be able to save and continue your application. Please be prepared to complete the application in one sitting. Before you apply, we recommend you consult the What You Need to Apply checklist to ensure you have all documents and information ready to fill out the application.

When will I find out if my application has been approved?

You will receive notification on your application status (approved or declined) approximately three weeks after your application has been submitted. Depending on volume, it may take less or more time. We will do our best to provide you a response as soon as possible.

How can I get updates about my application?

Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications anticipated to be received and rapid deployment, we cannot provide updates on the status of your application beyond whether it is received, approved or declined. You will receive notification on your application status (approved or declined) approximately three weeks after your application has been submitted.

How do I cancel my application?

To cancel your application, please contact us at info@webusinesscentre.com.

How do I change details on my application?

Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications anticipated to be received and rapid deployment, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to change details on your application once it has been submitted. Please reach out to us at info@webusinesscentre.com to discuss further.

Who will have access to the information I provide in my application?

Your information will be stored with Invest WindsorEssex, and on an as-needed basis, your information will be accessed by Invest WindsorEssex and the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario. In addition, FedDev Ontario may share only necessary business information about your application with other Government of Canada departments to verify that your business has not duplicated support received through this funding and other government recovery programs.

Contact

I have read these FAQs and I still have questions.

If you still have questions after reading this FAQ, please reach out to our client support team at info@webusinesscentre.com. We will do our best to respond to you within 48 hours.

Invest WindsorEssex is collaborating with key regional partners including the City of Windsor, Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island to deliver this new West Windsor Small Business Relief Fund.

Eligible businesses can apply for a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 to manage certain operational costs incurred during the blockade that are not covered by other government programs.

Monies received by businesses are non-reimbursable.

Begin Online Application