Happy coming Canada Day! I hope you have some plans to enjoy it even though it is in the middle of the week.

I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on some of the emergency funding programs.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)

The program has been extended for three more months until August 29, 2020. To qualify for the next subsidy period (June 7 to July 4, 2020), your business must demonstrate a revenue reduction of at least 30% in June 2020 compared to June 2019 or the average of January and February 2020. Eligibility criteria for future periods will be clarified later. The program will still provide 75% of the monthly payroll to qualified companies up to a maximum of $847 per week per employee.

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

Eligibility criteria to get this $40,000 interest-free loan have been changed. To qualify for the loan, your payroll expenses in 2019 must be at least $20,000. 25% of the loan amount is still forgivable as long as you meet all criteria and use the loan to pay for non-deferrable expenses.

Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit (ROITC)

This 10% refundable Corporate Income Tax credit was introduced to provide tax relief to businesses that build, renovate or purchase eligible commercial and industrial buildings in regions of the province where employment growth has been significantly lagging the provincial average.

Does your business qualify for the above and other government funding programs? Fill out Eligibility Check form at http://www.fgwinc.ca/eligibility to find out.

 

 

Is your business adversely impacted by the economic crisis caused by the pandemic? Check out Canadian government anti-crisis incentives.

 

 

Please stay at home if you can. We will get through this together. Our team is fully available.

Is your business adversely impacted by the economic crisis caused by the pandemic? Check out Canadian government anti-crisis incentives.

Please stay at home if you can. We will get through this together. Our team is fully available.

A crucial part of a post-COVID economic recovery in manufacturing is improving productivity and re-shoring through the adoption of Industry 4.0 solutions. But which Industry 4.0 solution is right for you? Now that the government provides 100% reimbursement of Industry 4.0 assessment cost, you can get the answer free of charge.

Technology Assessment Program run by the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) reimburses 100% of Industry 4.0 assessment cost up to a maximum of $25,000. You must be a manufacturer located in Ontario and have at least 15 employees at the time of the application.

The assessment must be conducted by one of the qualified providers listed on the program’s website. For example, our friends at Memex are such providers.

You can use these funds toward a pilot (proof of concept) to install Industry 4.0, IIoT software on your machines and assess the benefit to your business. With Data-Driven Manufacturing, there is often a 10% to 50% improvement in efficiency driving profits and competitive edge. This is what the federal government wants for Ontario manufacturers, so much so, they will fund it.

If you are considering getting into real-time machine monitoring, take the following steps.

1. Fill out your contact details to pre-qualify here https://cme-mec.ca/technology-assessment-pre-qualify-now. It will take 2 minutes.
2. You will be sent an intake form to determine eligibility.
3. When filling out that form, ensure you specify Memex as the Qualified Service Provider (QSP), use QSP number QSP2020012.
4. CME accepts you to the program.
5. Memex provides you with a quotation, including a budget for the assessment project.
6. You send in the Memex proposal to CME, attach to your application.
7. CME accepts your application within 10 business days and gives the authorization to proceed.
8. Memex performs the assessment and delivers a final report within 90 days.
9. You submit a Claim Form within 30 days after completing the project to get a reimbursement of 100% of the assessment cost.

If you have any questions about Memex solutions, contact John Rattray, John.Rattray@MemexOEE.com, or call him (416) 460-7637.

Does your business qualify for the above and other government funding programs? Fill out Eligibility Check form at http://www.fgwinc.ca/eligibility to find out.

We’ve all been living in the crisis mode for about three consecutive months. It is now time to accept the reality as a new normal and get back to the plans we had for our businesses before the pandemic.

The good news is that most government funding programs to support your business growth and solving its most pressing challenges are still available. Here are some of them.

Canada-Ontario Job Grant provides 50%-83% of the training cost. Online training is eligible. If you postponed employee training due to pandemic, ask your trainers if they can deliver the training online.

IRAP Youth Employment program provides up to 80% of the salary of the science and engineering graduates you may hire. Other hiring incentives are also available.

The famous SR&ED Tax Credit program now conducts online audits and claim reviews. The program is open for applications. Your business may be eligible to claim 60% of the labour cost spent on research and development.

Business Expansion grants and loans, such as SWODF, EODF and BSUP, are still available. If you’ve been thinking of expanding your building and buying equipment before the crisis, it is time to revisit your plans and apply for one of the expansion funds.

Last but not least, the CanExport program is still available. This program compensated 75% of international business travel and trade show expenses. Now that the business travel is not an option, you can apply for the funding to get regulatory approval to export your product, e.g. FDA approval. Participation in virtual trade shows and conferences and online advertising is now eligible, as long as you are pursuing export market opportunities.

Does your business qualify for the above and other government funding programs? Fill out Eligibility Check form at http://www.fgwinc.ca/eligibility to find out.

Is your business adversely impacted by the economic crisis caused by the pandemic? Check out Canadian government anti-crisis incentives.

Please stay at home if you can. We will get through this together. Our team is fully available.