Small and medium businesses in Bundaberg are being encouraged to see if they’re eligible for grants of up to $30,000.
More than $108 million is already in the pockets of over 12,400 small businesses across Queensland, thanks to the State Government’s COVID-19 Business Support Grants.
The program, jointly funded by the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments, provides grants to businesses impacted by Queensland lockdowns.
Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said Bundaberg businesses should check to see if they were eligible.
“If your business saw at least a 30% reduction in turnover during the recent Queensland lockdowns, even though Bundaberg wasn’t in lockdown itself, you could be eligible for a grant,” Minister Farmer said.
Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith said businesses should get in touch if they had any questions.
“We’ve had fewer than 50 applications from Bundaberg, and we want to make sure businesses know what support is open to them,” Mr Smith said.
“Businesses – make sure that you don't rule yourself out before calling the Small Business Hotline, checking your eligibility and asking any questions you may have.
“Applying is straight forward, with template letters provided to make the process easier.
“We’ve doubled the number of staff working on the grants which means we’ve already processed thousands of applications.
“I want to be really clear: any eligible business or sole trader in Bundaberg and the Wide Bay region that applies will receive the grant.”
Dale Sumner of C Bargara Resort at Bargara strongly encouraged other affected businesses to apply for the grant.
“I’d encourage other business owners to apply because this is not a handout, it’s support to ensure your business can grow in a difficult time,” Dale said.
“This winter, we are fortunate that a lot of Queenslanders are out supporting other Queenslanders by travelling in their own state, but the lockdown had a massive impact on people’s confidence to travel.
“This grant helps us cover wages and maintenance for the period when guests were locked down in South East Queensland resulting in cancellations.
“It also helps us be ready to scale up when people are ready to travel again, and we can show them what the real definition of paradise is.”
Mr Smith said the COVID-19 Business Support Grants are just one part of the government’s $14.2 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
“The best thing we can do for businesses is ensure our economy is growing, do everything we can to ensure any lockdowns are short and sharp, and keep businesses open and trading,” Mr Smith said.
“Here in Queensland, we didn’t have a lockdown that went for longer than three days until very recently. And Queenslanders did an incredible job to stop Delta in its tracks.
“Just like we were the first state to introduce a COVID economic stimulus package last year, we acted quickly again: applications for this support opened just one week after that lockdown ended and the first payments were being made the very next day.
“But we know businesses are feeling the impact of COVID-19 which is why we are providing this support, along with a $10,000 cleaning rebate for COVID exposure sites and nearly $50 million for tourism and hospitality businesses.
“$5,000 Business Basics Grants for regional small businesses are still open but we expect these to close soon, so get your application in now.
“We’ve also recently announced a further $40 million of support for tourism businesses, giving those who’ve seen a 70% reduction in turnover grants of up to $50,000.
“In addition, in the Wide Bay area we’ve provided more than $8.4 million in COVID-19 Small Business Adaptation Grants, more than $32 million in Jobs Support loans and more than $6.5 million in payroll tax relief.
“There’s also one-on-one support available, through our tailored Mentoring for Growth service, Small Business Financial Counsellors and the Queensland Small Business Commissioner.”
More information on the COVID-19 Business Support Grants can be found here.
More information on Business Basics Grants can be found here.
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