The Queensland Government has launched a small business grant to help companies affected by COVID-19.
Up to $100 million is being made available to deliver a second round of grants, with half of this funding specifically earmarked for regional small businesses located outside of South East Queensland.
Grants of up to $10,000 are available to invest in digital technologies and employ services that will help expand their digital offering. This allows small businesses affected COVID 19 to be more competitive in the digital space and generate an income that keeps their staff and key stakeholders employed.
Applications Are open For Regional Businesses
Find out if your business is eligible for a QLD Government grant. Click here to find out more.
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
- have experienced a minimum 30% decline 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 (employees must be on your payroll and does not include the business owner(s))
- 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 you can 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 or directors that are an undischarged bankrupt.
Successful applicants cannot reapply for funding under this grant program in future rounds.
Applying for the COVID Adaption Small Business Grants Program
Applications are open for small businesses in regional areas of Queensland.
Applications have closed for businesses in South East Queensland.
The Queensland Small Business Grant Assessment process
The available grant amount is a minimum of $2,000 and up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible small or micro business.
In recognition of the significant impacts of COVID-19 on small businesses, the funding can be used towards the following:
- financial, legal or other professional advice to support business sustainability and diversification
- continuing to meet business operational costs including utilities, council rates, rent, telecommunication charges, insurance fees, licensing or franchise fees
- strategic planning, financial counselling or business coaching aligned to business development and diversification
- building the business through marketing and communications activities (e.g. content development – web pages, mobile apps, visual and audio media etc.)
- digital/technological strategy development
- digital training or re-training and up-skilling employees to adapt to new business models
- capital costs associated with meeting COVID-19 safety requirements
- specialised digital equipment or business specific software to move business operations online (e.g. logistics program for online ordering).
* Key criteria was copied directly from the Queensland Government small business grants website. More information can be found here.
