TORONTO, June 25, 2020 /CNW/ - To continue to lend support to women entrepreneurs, BMO Financial Group will be evolving its BMO Celebrating Women program to introduce a new grant program to help Canadian women entrepreneurs who have innovated their businesses as a result of COVID-19.

Since the beginning of March 2020, many non-essential businesses across the country have been affected by pandemic-mandated closures to help fight the spread of COVID-19. As many business owners prepare to reopen, BMO recognizes the hardships women entrepreneurs in particular have faced during this pandemic and wants to celebrate their innovative work.

BMO has established an advisory committee and judging panel consisting of leaders from key strategic partner organizations and additionally will be partnering with a third-party firm to lead the selection process.

"Canadian business owners have been forced to adapt more quickly than ever before and we recognize the many challenges they have faced during this time," said Ernie Johannson, Group Head, North American Personal and Business Banking, BMO Bank of Montreal. "This new grant program provides an opportunity to celebrate women entrepreneurs and help them make real financial progress."

Since the beginning of March, BMO for Women has shared several digital initiatives to help support women business owners including:

• Online webinars on how to access capital and cash management, business planning, and tax implications.
• Special editions of Bold(h)er, the BMO for Women podcast series featuring experts discussing the impacts to business owners during the pandemic.
• Online workshops focused on personal resiliency and dealing with stress, financial management, relationship marketing, strategic business planning, and more.

Full details on criteria and how to apply will be announced and made available in early July at https://bmoforwomen.com/.

About BMO for Women
BMO is committed to supporting initiatives that empower women within its workforce and the communities the bank serves. BMO has partnered with organizations such as the Women Presidents' Organization, GroYourBiz, Women Business Enterprises, and Women Get On Board to provide expertise, leadership, knowledge, and opportunities for women to network and learn. In 2018, BMO announced $3 billion in capital available over three years specifically for Canadian businesses owned by women. Through the only bank-owned recognition program for women in North America – BMO Celebrating Women – BMO celebrates successful women who have given back to their communities or achieved success in business. Since 2012, BMO Celebrating Women has honoured more than 180 women in communities across Canada and the United States.

About BMO Financial Group 
Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $987 billion as of April 30, 2020, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

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