The Nova Scotia Government announced additional support for Nova Scotia businesses hit hard by the pandemic and facing province-wide restrictions as a result of a third wave. Three programs – one new program and two previously announced – aim to help small business owners such as restaurants, spas, hotels, gyms and hair salons.

Businesses will be supported through rebates, with an immediate infusion of cash to hire staff, pay down debt or order supplies. Fees for businesses will also be deferred to help owners and operators during this period. Starting today, May 4, applications are open for the Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program Part 2, announced in March. This program provides qualified operators with a 50 percent rebate on the first six months of commercial property tax paid in 2021-22.

Operators who received payments under the first Tourism Accommodations Real Property Tax Rebate Program will be automatically eligible as long as they are still the owners of the property. Applications will open the week of May 10 for the Small Business Real Property Tax Rebate Program, which was also announced in March.

Eligible businesses can receive a one-time rebate of a portion of their paid property taxes. They can choose a rebate of $1,000 or 50 percent of the commercial real property taxes paid for the final six months of the 2020-21 tax year.

The new Small Impact Business Grant Part 3 opens for applications this week to provide grants of up to $5,000 for Nova Scotia businesses directly affected by the April 2021 restrictions. Eligible businesses will receive a one-time grant of 15 percent of their sales revenue for the month of April 2019 or February 2020, up to a maximum of $5,000.For businesses established after March 15, 2020, the grant amount will be calculated as 15 percent of the sales revenue for any month from April 2020 to March 2021. The applicant can choose the month.

For more detailed information on all of the programs, visit Supports for Business Available Soon.