The New South Wales Government has released a recovery grant of up to $50,000 for small business who have been impacted by the storm and floods in February and March 2022.

This grant assists with covering:

Payment of tradespeople to conduct safety inspections;

Equipment and materials required for cleaning;

Equipment and materials essential for immediately resuming operations;

Payment for a cleaner if the service would not have been needed, or exceeds ordinary cleaning costs, in the absence of the disaster;

The removal and disposal of debris, damaged materials, or damaged stock;

Repairing premises and internal fittings; and

Leasing temporary premises, replacing or repair of motor vehicles, or replacing lost or damaged stock if it is essential for resuming operations.

Small Business Eligibility

To be able to access this grant funding, the small business must:
1. Have a small business located within one of the following disaster areas:

Armidale

Ballina

Bellingen

Byron

Clearance Valley

Coffs Harbour

Glen Innes Severn

Hornsby

Kempsey

Kyogle

Lismore

Nambucca

Port Macquarie/Hastings

Richmond Valley

Tenterfield

The Hills

Tweed

Bayside

Bega Valley

Blacktown

Blue Mountains

Camden

Campbeltown

Canterbury

Bankstown

Central Coast

Eurobodalla

Fairfield City

Georges River

Hawkesbury

Inner West

Kiama

Ku-ring-gai

Liverpool

MidCoast

Newcastle

Northern Beaches

Paramatta

Penrith

Ryde

Shellharbour

Shoalhaven

Sutherland

Wingecarribee

Wollondilly

Wollongong

2. Have suffered direct damage because of the storms and flooding;
3. Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs you are claiming;
4. Intend to re-establish your small business or not-for-profit organisation within the same area;
5. Have an active Australian Business Number (ABN) and ran the business at the time of the floods in the defined disaster area;
6. Sole traders who have no employees who fulfill the above criteria are eligible to apply if you can show that you derive most of your income from the small business, or that:

Immediately before the eligible disaster, you derived most of your income from the business; and

Most of your income will come from the business again if not for the disaster.

7. If your business is outside of the defined disaster area, you may be able to access the grant if the following apply:

Operates on a part-time or regular basis within the defined area;

Plant or equipment your small business owns was in the defined disaster area.

Eligible applicants can access up to $50,000 in assistance via two payments:

1. Funds of up to $15,000 will be provided to eligible, approved applicants based on the quotes provided with the application.

2. An amount of up to $35,000 is available to support subsequent claims when tax invoices and full evidence of payment is provided.

Applications for the grant close 7 September 2022.

If you would like further information in relation to the above grant funding program or if you would like assistance in applying, please contact Naomi Green on 07 4688 8400.

These times are extremely tough and challenging for many people and businesses and it is now more important than ever to reach out for support when you need it. Contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.