The Alberta government is providing funding to help businesses and other groups participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program to offset costs.
The $20-million Restrictions Exemption Program Implementation Grant is now open to all eligible businesses, co-operatives and non-profit organizations. Recipients can use the one-time funding, which can be applied for online, as they see fit.
“The Restrictions Exemption Program has allowed participating organizations to operate almost like business as usual. We know there is a cost to implement the program so we are responding by providing $2,000 to businesses,” said Jobs, Economy and Innovation Minister Doug Schweitzer in a statement.
The Restrictions Exemption Program, which came into effect on Sept. 20, allows businesses, cooperatives and non-profit organizations to remain open without the majority of public health restrictions.
The government says Alberta is the first province to provide funding support to organizations participating in a program that requires patrons age 12 and older to show proof of vaccination, a negative test result or medical exemption.
To apply, organizations must be using the Restrictions Exemption Program as a part of daily operations, be a permanent Alberta establishment and have fewer than 500 employees.