The Province is taking steps to help small businesses recover from and prevent vandalism. Property damage can be frustrating and expensive for small businesses, but soon, owners will be able to apply for funding from the Securing Small Business Rebate Program.
The program, administered by the BC Chamber of Commerce, will open its application portal on November 22, 2023, and stay open until January 31, 2025. Applicants can apply for up to $2,000 for repairs due to vandalism, like graffiti removal and glass replacement. They can also receive up to $1,000 for prevention measures, like buying and installing security cameras or gates.
Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, said in a release that “supporting small businesses with this rebate helps provide some relief for the costs they’ve taken on through no fault of their own.”
The rebate is set to be administered on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible applicants. All businesses applying for the rebate should be in good standing with the province, have a physical storefront in a BC community, and be able to provide proof of damage to their store or demonstrate issues of vandalism in the community. Applications are retroactive to January 1, 2023.
Property crime and vandalism in both rural and urban BC communities have led to increased costs for businesses. Fiona Famulak, president and CEO, BC Chamber of Commerce, said in a release that the “rebate program is an important and welcome step that will help defray expenses that have been incurred by small businesses that have been vandalized, or that want to mitigate the risk of vandalism.”
For more information on the program, you can visit the BC Chamber of Commerce’s website.
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