Small Business BC — Workplace Accessibility Grant
BC, Canada
Money for small business employers in BC
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateJune 21, 2021
- grant_single|closingDateMarch 31, 2024
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- grant_single|allIndustries
grant_single|grantors
- Small Business BC
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
Get up to $2,500 in direct financial support towards creating an inclusive work environment for persons with a disability(ies). Use the money for a variety of projects from upgrading technology to revising policies to training, and more.
grant_single_labels|projects
The Workplace Accessibility Grant supports small businesses in British Columbia to create an accessible work environment by funding projects that remove barriers for persons with disabilities. Eligible projects can address environmental, attitudinal, informational, practical, policy, and technological barriers.
- Ramp installation, lighting adjustments, and accessible washroom creation.
- Anti-bias and accessibility training for staff.
- Review and amendment of interview processes, ASL interpreting for orientations, and workflow accessibility audits.
- Consulting and legal advice for revising policies for accessibility.
- Creating ASL versions of policies, screen reader accessible forms, and large font or Braille documents.
- Purchasing software for accessible document production and installing tools like flashing fire alarms and specialized headsets.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$2,250
Calgary
Purchase software for creating accessible documents
$1,800
Montreal
Conduct anti-bias training sessions for staff
$2,500
Vancouver
Revising policies to enhance accessibility
$2,500
Toronto
Install accessible ramps and lighting for office building
$2,200
Halifax
Create Braille versions of company documents
$2,450
Ottawa
Adaptation of work vehicles for accessibility
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The Workplace Accessibility Grant assists small business employers in British Columbia by offering financial support to create accessible work environments for persons with disabilities. Eligible businesses must meet specific criteria related to business size, registration, and project types.
- Businesses must be small with less than 50 employees, including the owner.
- Businesses must be registered and licensed in British Columbia at the time of submission.
- Businesses must provide a BC Business Registration Number.
- Businesses need to have a registered business bank account for reimbursement purposes.
- Projects must clearly describe how they improve accessibility for persons with disabilities and address a barrier.
- Projects must address at least one of the following barriers: Environment, Attitudes, Information and Communication, Practices and Policies, Technologies.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
The Workplace Accessibility Grant is available for small businesses in British Columbia with less than 50 employees. These businesses must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the grant.
- Must be a small business with less than 50 employees, including the business owner.
- Must be registered and licensed in British Columbia at the time of submission.
- Must provide a detailed project description covering the item(s) and/or service(s) purchased, along with corresponding receipts.
- Business projects must address and remove barriers for persons with disabilities in the workplace.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
This grant covers various eligible expenses aimed at improving workplace accessibility for persons with disabilities. The eligible expenses encompass a range of projects addressing environmental, attitudinal, informational, communicational, procedural, and technological barriers.
- Environmental improvements: ramps, lighting levels, accessible washrooms, adaptations to vehicles.
- Attitudinal improvements: anti-bias training.
- Procedural improvements: training to review and amend interview processes, ASL interpreting for new staff orientation, accessibility audit of workflow.
- Policy reviews: funding for legal and consulting advice in revising policies.
- Information and Communication enhancements: job task checklists in pictorial form, ASL version of policies, application forms accessible to screen readers, reprinting hardcopies in large font, Braille versions of documents, updating web pages for accessibility.
- Technological upgrades: purchasing software for accessible documents, flashing fire alarms for deaf employees, specialized headsets, tablets for communication, laptops for remote working, specialized tools.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The Workplace Accessibility Grant is specifically available for small business employers situated in British Columbia, Canada. The businesses must be registered and licensed in British Columbia to qualify for this grant.
- Businesses must be located in British Columbia, Canada.
- Must have a valid BC Business Registration Number.
- Must hold a municipal business license from a city or municipality within British Columbia.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The Workplace Accessibility Grant is disbursed on a first-come, first-serve basis for eligible businesses and projects that meet the required criteria. As such, specific evaluation and selection criteria beyond eligibility requirements are not detailed for this grant.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Review Eligibility Criteria and Project Description
- Thoroughly read the eligibility criteria on the website to understand the qualifying accessible services for the grant.
- Ensure your project description includes detailed information regarding the project, the barrier addressed, and how it relates to improving accessibility for persons with disabilities in your workplace.
- Step 2: Prepare all prerequisite information for form submission
- Gather your contact information, business information, project description, BC Business Registration Number, and a copy of your active Business License.
- Step 3: Navigate to the Grant Application form and submit the form
- Submit the form for review and validation.
- Ensure information is accurate and detailed to streamline applications.
- Incomplete applications will require additional information via email.
- Step 4: Complete your purchases and upload and submit your receipt(s)
- Provide proof of payment to receive grant funds.
- Receipts must include details such as date, items purchased, retailer/seller name and address, purchase amount, and payment method.
- Receipts paid by cash are not accepted.
- Step 5: Register as a payee in the SparcPay payment system
- Register a payee account in SparcPay to receive funds through EFT.
- Provide a void cheque or a bank form from your financial institution.
- Step 6: Receive requested grant amount and close application
- Notification will be provided by email once the payment is released.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The Workplace Accessibility Grant is designed to support small businesses in British Columbia by providing up to $5,000 in financial assistance to create accessible work environments for persons with disabilities.
- The grant is not available for third-party applications to protect privacy and security.
- Funds are released via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) through SparcPay.
- Application deadlines and funding availability are subject to change based on fund allocation and demand.
- Businesses are encouraged to thoroughly review eligibility criteria and prepare required documentation before submitting applications.
- Contact Small Business BC for any questions related to the grant application process.
grant_single_labels|contact
604-775-5525
Apply to this program
Workplace Accessibility Grant Overview
The Workplace Accessibility Grant is designed for small business employers in British Columbia, offering up to $5,000 in financial assistance to enhance workplace accessibility for persons with disabilities. Eligible businesses can apply for reimbursement grants to improve their workplace environment, addressing barriers such as environment, attitudes, practices, policies, information and communication, and technology.
Comprehensive Guide to the Workplace Accessibility Grant
The Workplace Accessibility Grant is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering small businesses in British Columbia to build more inclusive and accessible work environments. Set against the backdrop of today's increasingly diverse workforce, this grant aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access and opportunities in the workplace, thus contributing to an inclusive society where everyone can participate and thrive.
Many small businesses, while eager to embrace inclusivity, face financial constraints when it comes to making substantial alterations to their physical and organizational infrastructure. The Workplace Accessibility Grant provides a vital solution to this issue, offering financial support that can be used toward creating a more accessible workplace. The initiative is designed to cover a range of accessibility improvements, from modifying physical environments to revising policies and enhancing communication methods.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Process
To qualify for the Workplace Accessibility Grant, businesses must meet specific criteria. Firstly, the business must be classified as a small business, with fewer than 50 employees, including the owner. Additionally, the business must be registered and licensed in British Columbia at the time of application submission.
The application process begins with a comprehensive review of the eligibility criteria outlined on the program's website. Once businesses ascertain their eligibility, they must prepare detailed information that includes contact details, general business information, a unique BC Business Registration Number, and a valid municipal business license. Importantly, the business must maintain a registered business bank account with a recognized financial institution for the reimbursement transaction via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Businesses must submit a detailed project description, highlighting how the proposed changes will enhance accessibility and specify the barrier(s) they aim to address. The project must address at least one of several barriers which include environmental, attitudes, practices and policies, information and communication, and technologies.
Furthermore, acceptable proof of purchase must be compiled for each product or service acquired, showing transaction details like dates, supplier information, items purchased, and the method of payment. It is crucial that all incurred costs adhere to the guidelines, as only complete and validated applications can proceed to the funding stage.
Understanding the Barriers and Eligible Projects
The grant allows businesses to target diverse accessibility barriers. Projects might include building ramps and accessible washrooms to tackle environmental barriers, or incorporating anti-bias training to combat attitudinal challenges. Businesses can also invest in training programs to revise interview processes or install American Sign Language (ASL) services for new employee orientation, addressing barriers in practices and policies.
Projects that enhance communication and information dissemination can include converting job task lists into pictorial forms, making policies available in ASL, or developing forms that are compatible with screen readers. Technology enhancements can involve acquiring software for accessible document creation, flashing fire alarms for deaf employees, or specialized equipment to support remote working options.
Small Business BC does not advocate for any specific service providers, so businesses have the liberty to choose whichever provider best meets their needs. It is imperative, however, that any service provider chosen can substantiate and validate the expenses per the grant's requirements.
The Importance of Project Planning and Execution
Businesses intending to apply for the Workplace Accessibility Grant should engage in prudent planning and execution. In-depth planning ensures that the purchased products and services do not exceed the $5,000 grant limit and that they deliver the intended accessibility improvements. Understanding the needs of employees with disabilities and engaging with accessibility experts can further refine and enhance project results.
Once an application is completed and preliminarily approved, businesses are authorized to proceed with purchases, aware that they must adhere to documented project scopes. Upon completion of the project, businesses must upload supporting documents through the application portal for final review and approval. Only those receipts meeting all requirements, such as valid payment proof and business details, will be eligible for reimbursement.
Payment Process and SparcPay Registration
The grant payment is processed through Small Business BC's EFT provider, SparcPay. Businesses must register an account on SparcPay and deliver a void cheque or equivalent banking documentation that aligns with the business name registered on the application. This step is instrumental in ensuring the prompt and secure transfer of funds. Personal bank accounts are not eligible, emphasizing the need for accuracy in maintaining business-specific account records.
Approved funds are typically released within 45 business days post application approval, contingent on the banking information's veracity and the business volume.
Additional Considerations and Program Duration
Funding runs on a first-come, first-serve basis until March 31, 2024, or until funds are fully allocated. Small Business BC’s team has currently paused accepting new applications due to high demand, but businesses have the option to join a waitlist for remaining funds.
For businesses eager to transition toward inclusivity and accessibility, the Workplace Accessibility Grant provides essential backing. It reflects a broader commitment to equity and access throughout British Columbia. By offering financial assistance to break down barriers, the grant paves the way for a diverse workforce ecosystem wherein everyone can contribute to and benefit from economic growth. For eligibility verification and to prepare an application, businesses are encouraged to consult the official documentation and guidance provided by Small Business BC, ensuring all logistical aspects are comprehensively understood and aligned with the program’s goals.
