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Workplace Accessibility Grant

Grant Information Application Requirements How to Submit your Application

Please Note: Due to high demand for the Workplace Accessibility Grant, we have temporarily paused the processing of new applications to ensure we meet our service standards for existing applications. Our team is currently working to disburse program funding in the order in which applications were received. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

How to Submit Your Application

Step 1: Review Eligibility Criteria and Project Description

  • Thoroughly read the eligibility criteria on our website to understand the qualifying accessible services for the grant
  • Project description includes detailed information regarding your Project, the barrier addressed, and how it specifically relates to improving accessibility for persons with disabilities in your workplace.

Step 2: Prepare all prerequisite information for form submission

  • Gather your Contact Information, Business Information, Project Description, BC Business Registration Number, and an image or .pdf copy of your active Business License.

Step 3: Navigate to the Grant Application form and submit the form

  • Once the form is submitted, our team will review and validate the information provided.
  • To streamline applications, information should be as accurate and as detailed as possible.
  • If applications with incomplete information are submitted, your business will be requested via email to provide further explanation. Applications with unverifiable or fraudulent information will be automatically rejected.
  • Once confirmed, you will be notified that your application has been approved for spending up to the maximum grant amount.

Step 4: Complete your purchases and upload and submit your receipt(s)

  • Once your project has been completed, you will be required to upload your proof of payment to receive grant funds.
  • Receipts that do not meet requirements will be rejected.
  • Receipts MUST include:
    • Date(s) of Purchase (not earlier than April 1, 2021)
    • Item(s) purchased – it should be clear from the document what has been purchased toward approved products and services under this grant
    • Retailer/Seller Name and Address
    • Amount of Purchase
    • Retailer/Seller GST and PST (if applicable) registration number located on document
    • Cannot be an unpaid invoice or quote
    • Must be a PAID receipt showing payment method and proof of payment. If paid by credit card for example, it must show the card type and the last 4 digits of credit card
    • Method of payment – Cancelled Cheque, EFT, Credit Card. No cash payments will be accepted.
    • Please see example for acceptable receipts on the Application Requirements page
  • Once the receipts have been received, our team will review the full Grant Application and follow-up if there are any discrepancies.

Step 5: Register as a payee in our SparcPay payment system

  • Final funds will be processed through our EFT payment provider, Sparcpay. You will be required to register a payee account in their EFT gateway, SparcPay, to receive any funds.
  • You will be required to upload a void cheque or a bank form from your financial institution, in addition to submitting your business information
  • Ensure your business bank account is identical to your application details. Payments will not be processed for payees that have banking information that is different from their application.

Step 6: Receive requested grant amount and close application

Once payment is released, your business will be notified by email of the payment.

Join Waitlist for the Workplace Accessibility Grant

Join Waitlist

Frequently Asked Questions

Small Business BC is your main point of contact. Please connect with them Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-775-5525
Toll Free in B.C.: 1-800-667-2272
TTY (Teletypewriter): 1-800-457-8466

The grant can be used for the following (but not exclusively for):

– Environment: ramps, lighting levels, accessible washrooms, adaptions to vehicles, etc.

– Attitudes: anti-bias training

– Practices: training to review and amend interview processes, ASL interpreting for new staff orientation, accessibility audit of workflow, etc.

– Policies: funding for legal and consulting advice in revising policies.

– Information and Communication: job task checklists in pictorial form, ASL version of policies, application forms accessible to screen readers, reprinting hardcopies of material in large font, Braille versions of documents, update web-pages for accessibility, etc.

– Technologies: purchasing software that enables production of accessible documents, flashing fire alarms for Deaf employees, specialized headsets, tablet for communication, laptop to allow some one to work from home, specialized tools, etc.

Find the full list of eligible covered services by type of barriers addressed here.

Small Business BC does not rank or endorse particular providers over another. Thank you for understanding.

No. A product or service provider cannot apply for the grant on your behalf. Applicants will be required to provide an attestation and upload documents, so we do not accept third-party applications to protect your privacy and security.

The Workplace Accessibility Grant runs through March 31, 2024 or until the funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.

The $5,000 includes any applicable taxes. Any amount over $5,000 is to be covered by the business.

Your receipt should include the following:

– Date(s) of Purchase (not earlier than April 1, 2021)

– Item(s) purchased – it should be clear from the receipt what has been purchased toward approved products and services under this grant

– Retailer/Seller Name/Address

– Amount of Purchase (Total covered services may be greater than $5,000, however, reimbursement will only be for up-to $5,000)

– Retailer/Seller GST and/or PST numbers on receipt, method (EFT transfer, cheque or credit card) and proof of payment

Please Note: Receipts paid by cash are not an accepted payment method as there is no way to verify the payment has been made.

Unfortunately we will not be processing applications for purchases made before this cut-off date.

No, however, verification of your submitted application will be completed before payment.

Unfortunately, Small Business BC does not provide a list of service providers for this grant as we cannot endorse one provider over another.

Register for the grant here.

A BC Business Registration number is not your federal tax identification. BC Business Registration Numbers will most often begin with the letters BC, FM, CP, XCP, LP, LL, LLC, A, C or S followed by 7 numerical digits (eg. FM1234567).

To verify if you have a valid BC Business Registration Number, please utilize OrgBook and search for your organization. OrgBook BC is a searchable public directory of open verifiable data about organizations legally registered in BC. Your business will need to operate in BC and have a valid BC Business registration number for the grant to be paid out.

No, grants will not be provided on items/services that have not yet been purchased. For final payment, a receipt will be required for the good/service. In addition, verification that your business legally conducts business in BC via verified BC Business Registration number will be required.

If you have details regarding your project, but you have not paid for it yet, you can save your application and submit the receipt once it is available.

Within the application form, you will have the opportunity to upload an image or .pdf of your receipt. If you do not have a receipt (i.e. you have not made the purchase yet), you can save and return your application at a different time.

We process your payment through electronic funds transfer (EFT) via SparcPay, a division of Sparcblock. In order to finalize your payment, we require electronic funds transfer (EFT) details of the business bank account associated with your business in your BC registered business name that you applied for the grant under. You will be required to upload a photo (.jpg) or electronic .pdf form of a void cheque that matches the business details that you previously submitted. Funds will not be deposited to personal bank accounts of individuals.

NOTE: If you are already registered in SparcPay and have received funds from Small Business BC electronically (through previous grant programs or other), you do not have to register a new account.

Small Business BC will use the banking information provided by each business to electronically transfer funds within 45 business days from submission and approval of invoice based on business volumes. In order to deposit your payment, ensure that you have registered for EFT with a SparcPay account.

Find more information about Accessibility Legislation in BC at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/accessibility/legislation

We respectfully acknowledge our place of work is within the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and that we serve the Peoples of the many Nations throughout British Columbia.