NSW Government Business Grant Program

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The NSW Government’s Business Grant Program aims to provide businesses with short-term financial support to alleviate cashflow constraints while trading is restricted.

Grants of up to $15,000 are available to eligible businesses. These grants will help businesses for the first three weeks of restrictions.

In order to account for the impacts of both the 2021 NSW and Victorian stay at home directions, the eligibility criteria for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Grants includes specific options for Southern Border businesses to demonstrate their decline in turnover.

Southern Border businesses and not-for-profits that have been impacted by the restrictions will be eligible to apply for a grant if, among other things, they experienced a decline in turnover of 30 per cent or more due to Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 27 May 2021 to 17 July 2021 compared to the same period in 2019, or the same period in 2020, or the two week period immediately prior to restrictions (i.e. 12–25 June 2021 inclusive) or the two-week period immediately before the Victorian Stay at Home Directions commenced (13 May-26 May 2021).

For more information on this Grant and how to apply, constituents can visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au/2021-covid-19-business-grant-guidelines.

The Business Grant closes on 13 September 2021.

In addition to the Business Grant, the government has introduced further support measures to help businesses through the current COVID-19 outbreak. While the below measures do not have specific eligibility criteria available for Southern Border businesses, they will still support eligible businesses within Wentworth Shire. These include:

  • The 2021 COVID-19 JobSaver Payment, providing additional financial support to eligible businesses across New South Wales, from week four of restrictions. Employing businesses will receive payments equivalent to 40 per cent of their weekly payroll, with a minimum payment of $1,500 per week and a maximum payment of $100,000 per week. Non-employing businesses will receive $1,000 per week. Businesses that are eligible for the Business Grant may also be eligible for JobSaver.
  • 2021 Micro-business COVID-19 Support Grant, providing financial support to micro-businesses or sole traders with an annual turnover of more than $30,000 and less than $75,000, who have been impacted by the 2021 COVID-19 restrictions. Eligible businesses will receive $1,500 a fortnight while stay-at-home-orders are in place, without the need to re-apply.
  • Payroll tax waivers of 25 per cent for businesses with Australian wages of between $1.2 million and $10 million that have experienced a 30 per cent or greater decline in turnover, as well as payroll tax deferrals and interest-free repayment plans.
  • Protections for commercial and retail tenants, and incentives for landlords to reduce the rent of impacted tenants. Landlords will not be able to lock out or evict impacted tenants without first negotiating rent with consideration to the National Cabinet’s Code of Conduct. There are also land tax concessions and grants available for eligible commercial landlords who provide their tenant’s rent relief.
  • A $5.1 million mental health package to support people impacted by the crisis. This is in addition to the existing mental health response to COVID-19 the Government has provided. Resources and counselling services provided by Beyond Blue, Lifeline and the Mental Health Line at 1800 011 511, offers valuable support for business owners and their employees during these challenging times.

More information about this package is available at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/covid-19-help-businesses.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we urge constituents to visit Service NSW for updates at: www.service.nsw.gov.au. For tailored information relating to specific circumstances, constituents can contact the Service NSW Business Concierge by calling 13 77 88 or book a call at: https://mybusiness.service.nsw.gov.au/concierge.

Please be assured the Government will continually review the need for targeted support to help keep businesses in business and ensure the State’s economy remains strong and resilient.