The provincial government is planning to provide additional support for businesses hit hard by the most recent COVID-19 health restrictions.

Premier Jason Kenney announced on Tuesday small and medium-sized businesses can receive another payment to help offset costs coming from the pandemic through the Enterprise Relaunch Grant.

It’s available for businesses that employ less than 500 people, including those who opened between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, hotels, taxis, and ride-sharing programs.

“Not being able to qualify for relief programs was a major frustration we heard from operators who started ventures during the early days of the pandemic,” Ken Kobly, president and CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce.

“This is a much-needed program to provide some assistance for SMEs that are doing their part to stem the tide of our current pandemic.”

Businesses can get up to $10,000 in help, equalling out to $30,000 dollars from the grant if they qualified for the total amount each time the GoA offered this.

Funds can be used to help with purchasing personal protective equipment, hiring new staff, strengthening online presence, and more.

Applications will open in the coming weeks and will close on May 31.

To date, 39,000 small businesses have been helped with $451 million.