The Queensland government has announced a small business grant program for eligible small and micro businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 shutdown restrictions announced by the Government. The Grant is designed to support small businesses who were subject to closures or highly impacted to adapt and sustain their operations, and build resilience.
The Government aims for the program to assist small and micro businesses to:
- prepare for the safe resumption of trading in the post COVID-19 recovery
- access digital technologies to rebuild business operations and transition to a new way of doing business
- respond to online opportunities, where possible, to sustain employment and maintain potential for longer-term growth
- upskill and reskill business owners and staff to benefit from new technologies or business models
- embrace business diversification to adapt and sustain operations
- create or retain employment
Funding is available up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible business, and can be used towards the following expenses:
- financial, legal or other professional advice to support business sustainability and diversification
- strategic planning, financial counselling or business coaching aligned to business development and diversification
- building the business through marketing and communications activities, for example, content development (web pages, mobile apps, visual and audio media etc.)
- digital/technological strategy development
- digital training or re-training to adapt to new business models
- capital costs associated with meeting COVID-19 safe requirements
- specialised digital equipment or business specific software to move business operations online (e.g. logistics program for online ordering)
- meeting business costs
They estimate that approximately 10,000 small businesses will be supported through the program which has an allocated budget, once the allocations are filled applications will close.
To be eligible for the grant, the business must:
- have been subject to closure or otherwise highly impacted by current shutdown restrictions announced by Queensland’s Chief Health Officer on 23 March 2020
- demonstrate that business revenue has been significantly impacted since 23 March 2020 over a minimum 1-month period due to the onset and management of COVID-19
- employ staff and have fewer than 20 employees at the time of applying for the grant
- have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) active as at 23 March 2020
- be registered for GST
- have a Queensland headquarters
- have an annual turnover over $75,000 for the last financial year
- have a payroll of less than $1.3 million
- not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are an undischarged bankrupt.
- Only 1 application will be accepted from an individual ABN or a financial beneficiary of a business.
In addition to the eligibility criteria, we understand that applications will be assessed against the following:
- funding availability - applications will be processed on a first come, first serve basis, and therefore not all applications will be successful
- submission of a complete application form, with all requested supporting documentation included (i.e. your application must contain the requested supporting documentation, otherwise you will be contacted to provide appropriate evidence and this may delay your application's progress)
- value for money, as determined by DESBT.
Grant payments
Funding will be paid upon approval of your grant application and within 1 month of completing the project, applicants must complete and submit an acquittal report and submit copies of supplier invoices and proof of purchase for the total project cost. DESBT may audit recipients in the future to ensure all information provided is true and correct.
For more information on the grant, visit the Queensland Government website or to apply click here.