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Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program

The Queensland Government has announced a new grant program to support small and micro businesses who have been highly impacted during the COVID-19 lockdown. The grant aims to see businesses adapt and sustain their operation, and build resilience. 

The grant program will assist small and micro businesses to:

  • prepare for the safe resumption of trading in the post COVID-19 recovery
  • access digital technologies to rebuild 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 owners and staff to benefit from new technologies or business models
  • embrace business diversification to adapt and sustain operations
  • create or retain employment.

AVAILABLE FUNDING

The Small Business COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program will provide small and micro businesses with funding up to a maximum of $10,000. This funding can be used towards:

  • financial, legal or professional advice to support 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, including utilities, rent.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order to be eligible, small and micro businesses 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 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.

APPLYING FOR THE GRANT

Before applying be sure to ready the eligibility criteria, application guidelines, terms and conditions and the frequently asked questions.

Application can be made using the SmartyGrants link.

WHAT YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE

Your application must include:

  • a statement describing how the funding will contribute to your small business during the COVID-19 crisis in terms of employment retention or outcomes, business capability and resilience, continuity, diversification, and/or digital capability of the business
  • evidence to demonstrate that business revenue has experienced a minimum 30 per cent decline since 23 March 2020 over a minimum one-month period due to the onset and management of COVID 19 (e.g. BAS statement, dated accountant letter on letterhead from a member of CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand or the Institute of Public Accountants)
  • invoice and/or receipt of purchase if related to the purchase of specialised digital equipment or business specific software on or after 23 March 2020
  • declaration of employee head count
  • evidence of annual turnover

If you would like to discuss this please contact our office.

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