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COVID-19 Adaption Grant Program

What is this funding all about?

The objective of this program is to support small businesses subject to closure or highly impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown restrictions announced by the Queensland Government, to adapt and sustain their operations, and build resilience.

 

The program aims to see small and micro businesses:

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

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, your 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.

What will be funded

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).

Note: Grant funds can be used towards any of the above activities occurring from 23 March 2020 onwards, keeping in mind the project must be completed within a maximum of 6 months from the date of approval.

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.

Check your eligibility and apply

Once you are eligible and want to apply for the grant, please contact us and we will look after all your training and equipment needs combined into a bundle.

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