Shannon Fentiman
June 16, 2020
A second round of small business grants designed to helped Queensland small businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19 has been announced.
“COVID-19 Adaption” grants of up to $10,000 will open for applications on July 1.
Half the $100 million funding set aside by that State Government in the stimulus package will be reserved for regional Queensland.
The grants program drew criticism from MP Deb Frecklington in May when the first round of the program was fully subscribed within a week of being announced.
Her criticism was supported by the Kingaroy Chamber Of Commerce and Industry, which said the $10,000 cash grants could have been “a real game changer” for local business had the funding pool been larger.
Round 2 will be targeted at businesses that were either forced to close or were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown.
They must be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent drop in revenue for at least a month since March 23, and the business must employ between one and 19 staff, excluding the owners.
Other eligibility criteria including having an ABN; being registered for GST; and having a turnover above $75,000 a year and a payroll of less than $1.3 million.
Small Business Minister Shannon Fentiman said the grants were about supporting small businesses to create more jobs for Queenslanders.
“Small business owners, including those who expressed interest in the first round, are encouraged to prepare the required documentation in readiness for grant applications opening on July 1,” Ms Fentiman said.
“They should read the eligibility guidelines now to ensure they have all the documentation ready to submit their application.
“The upfront grants of up to $10,000 will assist those small businesses forced into hibernation to restructure, significantly change their business operations or move online.”
More information about the grants is available online
- Related article: ‘False Hope’ For Small Business
