SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 ADAPTION GRANT PROGRAM

The Queensland State Government is extending the Small Business COIVD-19 Adaption Grant Program. As part of the Stage 2 Queensland Economic recovery plan, $100 million of funding is being made available to deliver a second round of grants, with half of this funding being specifically for regional small businesses located outside of South East Queensland (SEQ).

The grants will be open from 1 July 2020. One application will be accepted per ABN, and successful applications from round 1 cannot apply for funding under round 2. If you have submitted a round 1 application and have not heard back yet you are eligible to apply under round 2. The available grant amount is a minimum of $2,000 and up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible small or micro business. Due to demand the funding round may only be open for a short period and applications will close when the funding allocation is anticipated to be exhausted.

The funds can be used for legal and other professional advice to support sustainability, meeting business operation costs, strategic planning and business coaching, marketing, digital strategy development, capital costs associated with meeting COVID-19 safety requirements, costs associated with moving business operations online so long as they were incurred after 23 March 2020 and must be completed within 6 months of funding approval.

All invoices and quotes will be checked to ensure they are genuine and unaltered, and that the suppliers ABN is active.

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND (SEQ) BUSINESSES

South East Queensland businesses will be defined as those with their principal place of business located in one of the following local government areas:

• Brisbane City Council
• Ipswich City Council
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Logan City Council
• Moreton Bay Regional Council
• Noosa Shire Council
• Redlands City Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• Sunshine Coast Council
• Toowoomba Regional Council

You are classed as a ‘regional business’ if your principal place of business is any other local government area within Queensland that is not identified as a SEQ location.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible, 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 revenue has decreased a minimum of 30% 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 2018-19 or 2019-20 financial year, or provide financial records that show this will be met for recently started small businesses
• have a payroll of less than $1.3 million
• not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are an undischarged bankrupt.

HOW TO APPLY

• Check eligibility and confirm business location
• Read the application guidelines, FAQ’s and Application Tips
• Prepare your application and supporting documentation ready to submit
• After round two opens, lodge and online application (only available after 1 July 2020)

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, applications will be assessed against the following:

• funding availability – applications will be processed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, and therefore not all applications will be successful
• submission of a complete application form, with all requested supporting documentation included
• value for money, as determined by the Queensland Government.

GRANT PAYMENTS

Funding will be paid upon approval of your grant application. Applicants will have 6 months to complete their projects and must acquit the total amount of funding received.

Grant recipients may be subjected to a random audit by the Queensland Government (or its representatives) to ensure that the information provided is true and correct. Where it is found that false or misleading information has been provided, penalties may apply, including refunding some or all of the grant funding.

For more information please click here. Alternatively we are always here to help, so feel free to contact our office for any help with the Grant process or questions you may have.