Premier Stephen McNeil has announced two new programs putting more than $40 million into the economic support plan to help those those “out of work and small businesses affected by COVID-19”.
$20 million will go to the Worker Emergency Bridge Fund.
“To help the self-employed and those laid-off workers who do not qualify for Employment Insurance. We will provide a one-time thousand dollar payment to bridge the gap between the lay-offs and closures and the federal government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit. The goal is to get the money into the hand of the impacted workers as quickly as possible.”
Another $20 million will go to the Small Business Impact Grant.
“Eligible small businesses will receive a grant of fifteen percent of their gross revenues either from April, 2019 or February, 2020, up to a maximum of $5000. This flexibility one-time up-front grant can be used for any purpose.”
The money comes from a $50 million fund to be administered by Dalhousie University.
