Support for Northern Beaches businesses impacted by COVID-19

Small businesses that experienced hardship as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions on the Northern Beaches will have access to grants designed to help cover unavoidable expenses.

Minister for Finance and Small Business, Damien Tudehope, said a new funding program would provide for the roll out of $3,000 and $5,000 hardship grants to eligible Northern Beaches businesses.  The $3,000 grant is for small businesses that have suffered at least a 30 per cent decline in turnover due to the lockdown, while the $5,000 grant is for small businesses that have had at least a 50 per cent decline in turnover.

The NSW government’s eligibility criteria

Tier 1: $3,000 grant

Small businesses and not-for-profits that were subject to the Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 (the Northern Beaches Public Health Order) will be eligible for a one-off $3,000 Northern Beaches Hardship Grant if they:

• Are a non-employing business or a business with fewer than 20 full-time equivalent staff (FTE).
• Have an Australian business number (ABN) registered in, or they can demonstrate they are physically located and primarily operating in the Northern Beaches Local Government Area (LGA).
• Experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30 per cent due to the Northern Beaches Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 19 December 2020 to 10 February 2021 compared to the same time last year.
• Have total Australian wages below the NSW government 2020–21 payroll tax threshold of $1,200,000 as at 1 July 2020.
• Have an annual turnover of more than $75,000 as at 1 March 2020.
• Had unavoidable business costs during the Northern Beaches lockdown (e.g. rent), for which there is no other government support available.

Tier 2: $5,000 grant

Small businesses and not-for-profits that were subject to the Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 (the Northern Beaches Public Health Order) will be eligible for a one-off $5,000 Northern Beaches Hardship Grant if they meet all the eligibility criteria for the $3,000 (tier 1) grant, except they must:

• Have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 50 per cent due to the Northern Beaches Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 19 December 2020 to 10 February 2021 compared to the same time last year

For more information please click here.