The Lytton Business Restart Program provides funding to support the restart and revitalization of local businesses in Lytton, British Columbia.

A vibrant business community is essential to the recovery of Lytton, British Columbia. Businesses create jobs, create gathering places, attract visitors and play an important role in what draws people to a community.

Today, the Honorable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced that the Lytton Business Restart Program is open for applications . Through this $7.2 million program, PacifiCan will provide funding to eligible small businesses operating in the Lytton community.

Since the devastating Lytton Creek Fire in 2021, complex land recovery efforts have taken place and the community is now ready to focus on rebuilding. Last year, the Government of Canada launched a program to help homeowners in Lytton rebuild more fire-resistant and climate-friendly homes. Today, the Government of Canada is here to support the restart of Lytton’s business community.

The Lytton Business Restart Program will help Lytton rebuild its economic core. Old and new businesses can apply for support through the program, which has two funding streams tailored to community needs. The Rapid Restart stream provides up to $20,000 in non-repayable contributions to returning businesses that need a small amount of funding to restart their operations. The Small Business Recovery Stream provides larger amounts of funding, up to $1 million, in the form of repayable contributions, with some consideration for non-repayable contributions for businesses that have been identified as critical to rebuilding and the long-term economic vitality of Lytton.

In response to local needs, the Lytton Business Restart Program is open to small businesses planning to operate in the village of Lytton and within a 15 kilometer radius of the village, including on reserves. Throughout the intake period, PacifiCan will actively seek proposals, including from Indigenous businesses, as well as those operated by women, youth and other under-represented groups. PacifiCan also works in partnership with local community development departments, who will help potential applicants plan their activities.

PacifiCan is one of the partners supporting Lytton’s recovery, alongside the Province of British Columbia, other federal departments, the Village of Lytton, the Regional District of Thompson-Nicola, Indigenous communities and leaders of the region.