While many business owners in the Northern Rivers go through the pros and cons of continuing as they were, relocating or reopening at all, a grant to help small businesses has been put on offer.
Flood-impacted small business owners and not-for-profits in the Northern Rivers can now apply for the $10,000 Small Business Northern Flood Grant to help with rent, wages, government fees and other business costs.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the grant would provide a one-off payment of $10,000 to eligible small businesses and not for profits. ‘This funding will provide people with much-needed cash flow to help pay the bills and get back to serving their customers and their community.’
40 per cent decline in turnover
To be eligible, businesses and NFPs need to have experienced a decline in turnover of 40 per cent or more due to flood events in March 2022, when compared to March 2021 or March 2020. This will help businesses that suffered more indirectly due to the floods, which caused economic upheaval locally. ‘Many have lost both local and tourist traffic and spending – this grant helps address the overall economic damage a disaster of this scale can cause,’ said Mr Toole.
Businesses can apply for the Small Business Northern Flood Grant via the Service NSW website. Customers can also call Service NSW on 13 77 88, register for a call back from the Business Concierge or visit their local Recovery Centre for further assistance.
The grant is available to small businesses and NFPs in the highly impacted Northern Rivers local government areas of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, and Tweed Shire.
Businesses, which have successfully applied for any of the following support programs, will not be eligible for the grant:
- $25,000 Rural Landholders Grant for the February 2022 NSW floods;
- $75,000 Special Disaster Grant Primary Producer for the February 2022 NSW floods;
- February and March 2022 Flood Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant; and
- February and March 2022 Storm and Flood Disaster Recovery Medium Business Grant.
Other individual flood assistance from the NSW or Commonwealth Government does not exclude applications from the $10,000 Small Business Northern Flood Grant.
Businesses are also encouraged to consider their eligibility for the Medium Business Grant, targeted at businesses over 20 FTEs, prior to applying for the Small Business Northern Flood Grant. This grant is due to open in the coming weeks.
Eligible business customers will have funds deposited in their bank account within five business days of being approved.
For more information on the Small Business Northern Flood Grant visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-small-business-northern-flood-grant
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
