A wildfire burns in northern Manitoba near Flin Flon, as seen from a helicopter surveying the situation, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski)
Small businesses affected by last year’s Manitoba wildfires can now apply for new financial assistance through a program launched by the Canadian Red Cross.
The Support to Small Businesses Program, funded by the province, offers eligible businesses up to $2,000 to help cover wildfire-related costs such as cleanup, insurance deductibles, inventory storage, and other urgent expenses.
To qualify, businesses must be located in or operating within communities that were under a mandatory evacuation order for at least three days on or after May 7, 2025. Applicants must also have had a valid Manitoba business number as of April 1, 2025, be in good standing, and have resumed — or plan to resume — operations following the fires.
Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2026. Eligible communities were identified in collaboration with the provincial government.
The Red Cross says the program is part of its broader wildfire recovery efforts, which continue to provide assistance to individuals and communities affected by the 2025 fires.
More information and application details are available at redcross.ca/2025ManitobaWildfires.
