The province has updated it’s rebate program to help small businesses offset costs after the business community reported barriers with the original application process.

In a release, B.C.’s Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation states, that the Securing Small Business Rebate Program “making changes to offer a smoother and faster application process” to help businesses access funding for costs related to repair, and vandalism.

As part of the original program, businesses can apply for up to $2,000 towards the cost of vandalism-related repairs and up to $1,000 towards vandalism prevention measures.

Ross Lam has worked in his family business, Forum Home Appliances, in Chinatown for over thirty years.

His business has had multiple instances of vandalism, including bricks thrown through the glass and stolen items and the building graffitied, but he hasn’t applied for this rebate because he heard others had to go through a lot of hurdles during the application process.

“It comes out of the bottom line. Small businesses aren’t in a position to raise our prices, so we kind of just have to eat the loss,” he said.

Some of the changes to the rebate program include removing the requirement to provide an insurance claim when applying for repair funding. Applicants will just need to show their insurance and policy number. Also, self-installations will be permitted and eligible equipment will be reimbursed.

“The security gate that we put in, we installed it ourselves, so that’s something that we can claim,” says Lam.

The province is working with the BC Chamber of Commerce on this rebate program which was first introduced in the fall, but the government reported concerns from the business community that the application process had too many barriers to get the funding.

“When I became aware of the challenges some businesses were having in applying for the program, I immediately connected with the BC Chamber of Commerce and small business owners to hear their concerns,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.

“Our goal is to get the money out the door and in the pockets of our hard-working small business owners, so we are taking action on the issues being raised and taking steps to make changes to the application process,” she said.

Part of the updated rebate also means removing the application deadline of February 29, 2024, for preventative and reparative applications being filed for 2023.

Now, applications will be accepted until the program ends in 2025.

Those who wish to apply can do so under the BC Chamber of Commerce application portal, which is expediting the changes to help distribute a total of 10.5 million dollars too small businesses.