Introduction
If you're a medium business or a not-for-profit organisation and you've experienced direct damage as a result of storms and floods commencing 4 August and 14 September 2022 onwards, you may be eligible for the Medium Business Support Grant.
This grant of up to $200,000 is to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a medium business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations.
The business or not-for-profit organisation must be located in one of the following local government areas (LGAs): Balranald, Berrigan, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Cowra, Dubbo, Edward River, Federation, Forbes, Griffith, Gunnedah, Hay, Junee, Lachlan, Leeton, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrabri, Narrandera, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Wentworth.
There are 2 steps involved in receiving the Medium Business Support Grant:
1. Apply for the grant
- You must first apply to confirm your eligibility.
- Make an appointment with a Business Concierge to confirm proof of identity.
2. Claim the grant
- If your application is approved, you'll be able to claim your grant using your Business Profile in your MyServiceNSW Account.
Covered costs could include, but are not limited to:
- payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections
- equipment and materials required for cleaning up
- equipment and materials essential for immediately resuming operations
- payment for a cleaner if the service would not have been needed, or exceeds ordinary cleaning costs, in the absence of the disaster
- the removal and disposal of debris, damaged materials or damaged stock
- repairing premises, or repairing or replacing internal fittings, if it’s essential for resuming operations
- leasing temporary premises, if it’s essential for resuming operations
- replacing or repair of motor vehicles, if it’s essential for reinstatement of the business
- replacing lost or damaged stock, if it’s essential for immediately resuming operations
- temporarily adopting an online business model.
Available funding
The maximum grant amount available is $200,000.
Funds of up to $25,000 will be provided to eligible, approved applicants based on quotes or estimates submitted in your application. You do not need to provide evidence of payment at this stage.
If you submit another application, bringing your total claim to more than $25,000, you will need to provide evidence of payment for all funds, including the first $25,000 you claimed.
To receive funds of between $25,000 to $200,000, you will need to submit evidence of payment of the relevant costs at the time of application.
If your initial grant application is for an amount less than $200,000, you can submit further applications if you require additional funds to complete eligible clean-up and reinstatement activities.
Closing date
Applications closed 11:59pm 29 March 2024.
Eligibility
You must be a medium business owner or a not-for-profit organisation in an eligible LGA and:
- have suffered direct damage – 'direct damage' means a direct and material impact of flooding on business assets or equipment
- be responsible for meeting the costs you are claiming
- intend to re-establish your medium business or not-for-profit organisation within the same area
- have employed a minimum of 21 and less than 200 full-time equivalent employees as at 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 (as applicable).
If you are a medium business, you must:
- have held an ABN (which you currently hold) as at 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 (as applicable)
- be structured as a company, joint venture, partnership or trust.
If you are a not-for-profit organisation, your principal objective must not be the generation of profit, and you must be:
- registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission or an equivalent state regulatory body and have held that registration as at 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 (as applicable), or
- registered as an incorporated association or cooperative with Fair Trading NSW and were registered on or before 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 (as applicable), or
- deemed to be a not-for-profit organisation, in accordance with the current Australian Accounting Standards Board on or before 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 (as applicable).
You may also be eligible under hardship circumstances at the discretion of Service NSW and Regional NSW.
The grant is not available:
- if you’ve received funding or assistance from any other government source or program or donation for your medium business or not-for-profit organisation and that funding or assistance has met the same costs you are claiming in your application
- if you’ve received or are entitled to receive the expenses you are claiming under an insurance policy
- to cover loss of income as a result of the eligible disaster
- if your medium business or not-for-profit organisation is a body corporate, farm enterprise, superannuation fund or personal investment vehicle
- if you’ve received a:
- February and March 2022 Northern Rivers medium size business support grant of up to $200,000
- February and March 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant of up to $50,000
- June and July 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant of up to $50,000
- August and September 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant of up to $50,000
- $10,000 small business northern flood grant
- Primary producer special disaster grant of up to $75,000.
Note: If you have applied for one of the above grants and believe you may be eligible for the Medium Business Support Grant, call 13 77 88 and ask to speak with a Business Concierge.
What you need
- a MyServiceNSW Account – you can create one when you start your application
- your proof of identity
- your valid ABN/ACN number
- evidence of your non-profit status (if applicable)
- your business banking details for payment.
In addition:
For any amount you're seeking up to $25,000, you'll need quotes for replacements, works or services.
If you are applying for an amount between $25,000 and $200,000, evidence of payment means:
an invoice including the name, address and ABN (if applicable) of the entity that issued the invoice and a description of each item included, clearly identifiable as being related to the approved expenditure and to damage from the eligible disaster
a receipt including the name and address and ABN (if applicable) of the entity that issued the receipt and a description of each item to which the receipt relates
a copy of your bank transfer and/or bank statement.
Note: If you’re unable to provide evidence of direct damage, you may use other appropriate evidence to prove financial impact of the damage. We may request additional information and evidence to support your application.
A qualified accountant, registered tax agent or registered BAS agent may apply on behalf of your business. Your accountant will need to provide a letter of authority from you to show that they are authorised to act on behalf of your business if they are not listed as an associate on the Australian Business Register.
Auditing requirements
You may be audited in the future, so you will need to keep all documentary evidence related to your application and assistance provided under the scheme for 7 years after you have spent the funds. As part of an audit, you will be required to provide evidence that you have used grant funds in accordance with the claims made in your application (for example, official receipts).
Proof of identity
There are 2 steps to prove your identity.
Step 1
During the online application, you enter the details of your identity documents. Two proof of identity documents are required. They may include:
- Australian driver licence
- Medicare card
- Australian passport or citizenship certificate
- Australian birth certificate
- Australian travel visa
- Australian certificate of registration by descent
- Australian ImmiCard.
Once your details are verified, you can proceed with the online form.
Step 2
When you’ve completed the online form, you need to call us on 13 77 88 and make an appointment to see a Business Concierge at your place of business or a Service NSW Centre. They need to view your identity documents and check to make sure:
- all documents are in the same name (if not, a change of name or marriage certificate will be required)
- your photo identity document is a true representation of you
- none of the documents are fraudulent or inaccurate.
Note: Paper documents must not be laminated.
A Business Concierge must see your proof of identity documents before your application can be assessed.