Updated 18 October 2021
COVID-19 Grants
In response to the natural disasters and COVID-19, the NSW and National Government have multiple ongoing support grants and programs. As of March 2021, the following programs are still available:
- SME Recovery Loan Scheme (closes 31 December 2021)
- Travel Support Program (closed)
- Business Grant (closed 1 October 2021)
- Micro Business Grant (closed 18 October 2021)
- JobSaver Payment (closed 18 October 2021)
- Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate (closes 30 June 2022)
- Support for independent breweries (closed)
- Jobs Plus Program (closes 30 June 2022)
- Export Assistance (closes 31 December 2021)
- Grants for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (closed)
- Small Busines COVID Hardship Fund (closed)
- Alpine Resorts Winter Support Program (Closes 17 September 2021)
- Live Performance Support Program (dlosed)
- 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants for lockdown-impacted businesses in Queensland (Closes 16 to 30 November 2021)
National COVID-19 Grants
SME Guarantee & SME Recovery Loan Scheme
The SME Guarantee & SME Recovery Loan Schemes, provide small and medium enterprises with the ability to manage disrupted cash flows as a result of COVID-19. Each stage of the program has relaxed the requirements of the program, increased the amount that can be borrowed and extended the repayment windows.
The current SME Recovery Loan is obtained through qualified lenders who have 80% of the loan amount guaranteed by the government. The loan allows eligible businesses to secure loans of up to $5 million with the amount repayable the amount over 10 years. Up to a 24 month repayment holiday is also available. For more information, please see our full article on our blog.
Applications close on 31 December 2021.
Travel Support Program (Closed 12/06)
Travel agents and tour companies that have been impacted due to Covid-19 may be eligible for a one-off grant. This grant ranges from $1,500 to $100,000 allowing businesses to pay refunds and credits to Australian consumers. To be eligible, businesses must have had an annual turnover of $50,000 to $20,000 during the 2019 calendar year. Applications for the first round of the program have closed, however a second round will be available. Visit the government program page for more information.
NSW COVID-19 Grants
The NSW Government offers a series of COVID-19 grants and programs. These are targeted at businesses in or looking to expand their operations to NSW.
Business Grant
The 2021 COVID-19 business grant provides cash flow support for businesses that experienced reduced demand or had to close due to the recent public health orders.
If you’re a business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you’ve been impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions, you may be eligible for one of the one-off grants below.
- $15,000 for a decline in turnover of 70% or more
- $10,000 for a decline in turnover of 50% or more
- $7,500 for a decline in turnover of 30% or more
Eligible applicants across NSW can use the grant for business costs incurred from 1 June 2021.
Applications close on 1 October 2021.
Micro-Business Grant
The 2021 COVID-19 micro-business grant provides cash flow support for businesses that have been impacted by restrictions whilst continuing to incur business costs.
If you’re operating in NSW with an aggregated annual turnover between $30,000 and $75,000 and have experienced a decline of 30% or more you may be eligible for a payment of $1,500 per fortnight.
The grant is open to:
- Sole Traders
- Small Businesses
- Not-for-profit organisations
Applications close on 18 October 2021.
JobSaver Payment
The 2021 COVID-19 JobSaver payment provides cash flow support for businesses to help them maintain their employee headcount whilst complying with public health orders.
If you’re a business, or not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you’ve been impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions, you may be eligible to receive fortnightly payments equivalent to 40% of your weekly payroll.
- minimum payment will be $1,500 per week
- maximum payment will be $100,000 per week
Payments will be backdated from 18 July 2021 onwards to cover costs incurred from the Greater Sydney lockdown.
Applications close on 18 October 2021.
Small business fees and charges rebate
From April 2021 until 30 June 2022 sole traders, small businesses or not for profits may be eligible for a rebate of $1,500. Businesses that apply will be able to submit claims for fees and charges until they reach the rebate limit of $1,500. Claimable items are NSW and local government related fees and charges incurred form 1 March 2021 including:
- Food authority licences
- Liquor licenses
- Tradesperson licenses
- Event fees
- Council rates
It cannot be used for fines, penalties, fees or charges designed to discourage behaviours or illegal activities.
Eligibility;
- Australian wages below the Payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million
- Have an ABN registered in NSW and/or have NSW as their primary place of operation
- Be registered for GST
- Proof of a turnover of at least $75,000 annually, e.g. an accountants letter
The rebate will be available until 30 June 2022. For more information visit Service NSW.
Support for Independent breweries (closed)
Independent breweries can access government funding through the Independent Brewers Association. The program was announced in June 2020, with a total of $135,000 in government funding available for 12 months. This funding will cover the annual membership funds for one year for both new and existing members of the Independent Brewers Association. Get in touch with the IBA for more information.
Jobs Plus program
The Jobs Plus program is open to Australian and International companies who are looking to commence or expand their business operations in NSW. To apply, businesses must create a net growth of 30 new full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. These jobs must be part of a business project created in NSW before 30 June 2024.
The benefits of the program are based on the number of FTE Equivalent jobs (35 hours/week) created, but can include:
- Jobs Plus concierge service – for navigating agencies, programs and requirements
- Payroll tax relief for up to 4 years
- Subsidised training package rebates
- Enabling infrastructure rebates
- Access to subsidised, short-term government accommodation and spaces
- Assistance with planning approvals in NSW
Applications will be open from 15 December 2020 until 30 June 2022. Visit Service NSW for more information.
Export Assistance
The export assistance grant is targeted at businesses who were exporting goods and services prior to Covid-19, the bushfires or drought. If they have had their exports impacted by these activities, they may be eligible for up to $10,000 in grants.
Businesses can claim a total of $10,000 either as a single claim, or multiple $2,000 claims. These claims take the form of expenses paid after 1 Jan 2020, with 50% of these expenses being reimbursed.
These funds can be used for:
- marketing materials
- website internationalisation
- pivoting to online delivery (for example, converting face-to-face training content to online content for international audiences)
- e-commerce development
- market research
- international trade show and trade missions
- inbound business support
- costs to support compliance/localisation of products for export
- costs to protect business in international markets.
For more information such as the eligibility requirements, please visit the government program page.
Applications close on 31 December 2021.
Grants for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Peoples (closed)
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) can be eligible for grants up to $50,000. Eligible ACCOs must provide culturally appropriate, locally based support to Aboriginal communities impacted by Covid-19. Applications are open from 22 February 2021 to 14 May 2021 through Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
VIC COVID-19 Grants
The new Victorian Business Support Package will deliver an additional $400 million in support to thousands of businesses, with funding to be split 50/50 between the Commonwealth and Victorian Government.
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
Small businesses with a payroll of up to $10 million who have experienced a 70 per cent or greater reduction in revenue will be eligible for grants of up to $10,000.
When applying for this grant you will need to demonstrate a reduction in turnover of at least 70% for a minimum consecutive two-week period since 27 May 2021 as a direct consequence of COVID-19 restrictions, comparable to a benchmark period in 2019.
You will require the endorsement (e.g. accountants letter) of a qualified accountant, registered tax agent of BAS accountant to verify this decline in turnover.
Alpine Resorts Winter Support Program
The Alpine Business Support program will receive a further $11.2 million to continue delivering support for affected businesses. The grant provides between $1,000 and $40,000 to 430 Alpine based businesses in recognition of restricted inter and intra-state travel during the peak winter season.
Applications close on Friday 17 September 2021. Please visit the grant page on Business Victoria for more information.
Live Performance Support Program Round 2
Presenters
The Live Performance Support Program (Presenters) Round Two provides grants to eligible businesses affected by the cancellation or postponement of events as a result of lockdowns and public health restrictions between 11:59pm on 27 May 2021 and 11:59pm on 2 September 2021.
Applicants can apply for either $7000 or $5000 for one event, depending on losses or unrecoverable costs, and a further $5000 for a second event. There is a cap of $12,000 per applicant across the two rounds of the program.
Applications close at 11:59pm on Wednesday 8 September 2021. Please visit the grant page on Business Victoria for more information.
Suppliers
The Live Performance Support Program (Suppliers) Round Two provides grants to eligible contracted suppliers affected by the cancellation or postponement of events as a result of lockdowns and public health restrictions between 11:59pm on 27 May 2021 and 11:59 on 2 September 2021.
Suppliers may be eligible for either $200 or $500 per event, depending on the level of loss or unrecoverable costs incurred. They can apply for support for up to 20 events through Round One and Round Two of the program. There is a cap of $4000 in total support per applicant across the two rounds of the program.
Applications close at 11:59pm on Wednesday 8 September 2021. Please visit the grant page on Business Victoria for more information.
QLD COVID-19 Grants
2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants for lockdown-impacted businesses in Queensland
You may be eligible to receive a grant, based on the payroll size of your eligible business or not-for-profit organisation in Queensland. This grant may be used for business expenses.
| Business type | Payroll size | Available funding |
|---|---|---|
| Employing Queensland small businesses and not-for-profit organisations | less than $1.3 million | $10,000 |
| Employing Queensland medium sized businesses and not-for-profit organisations | between $1.3 million and $10 million | $15,000 |
| Employing Queensland large sized tourism and hospitality focused businesses and not-for-profit organisations | more than $10 million | $30,000 |
| Non-employing sole traders based in Queensland | n/a | $1,000 |
Applications close at 11:59pm on Thursday 16 November 2021.
Non-employing Sole Trader applications close at 11:59pm on Tuesday 30 November 2021. Please visit the grant page on the QLD Government website for more information.
POP Business advisory services for your COVID-19 Grants application
If you’re interested in any of these COVID-19 Grants, POP can help you. We can provide you with an analysis of your business structure, cash flow and eligibilty for these programs, and more.
Get in touch with POP or call us today on 1300 180 630!
