Small Business Adaption Grants – Information Session 5.30pm Monday 25 May 2020

As part of the response to the impact of COVID-19 on the Hinchinbrook community, the Hinchinbrook Recovery Group held their first meeting on Thursday 21 May 2020.  The Hinchinbrook Shire Council together with the Economic Recovery Sub Group are working on developing a Recovery Action Plan which will incorporate short and longer term objectives for the economic recovery of the Shire.

On Tuesday 19 May 2020 the Queensland State Government announced the Small Business Adaption Grant Program which aims to assist those small businesses in Queensland who have been forced into hibernation, or those who have experienced a significant structural adjustment or forced re-pivoting of their business operations. The objective of the Program is to support small businesses subject to closure or highly impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown restrictions to adapt and sustain their operations, and build resilience.

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training have recently advised that applications received to date have already exceeded 60% of allocated funding.

Grants are available up to a maximum of $10,000 per eligible small or micro business. Grant funds can be used towards the following activities:

• financial, legal or other professional advice to support business sustainability and diversification;
• strategic planning, financial counselling or business coaching aligned to business sustainability and diversification;
• building the business through marketing and communications activities, such as content development (web pages, mobile apps, visual and audio media etc.);
• digital/technological strategy development;
• digital training or re-training to adapt to new business models;
• capital costs associated with meeting COVID-19 safe requirements;
• specialised digital equipment or business specific software to move business operations online (e.g. logistics program for online ordering); and
• meeting business costs, including utilities and rent.

Please note that grant funds can be used towards any of the above activities occurring from 23 March 2020 onwards, keeping in mind that the project must be completed within a maximum of six months from the date of approval. Businesses must meet the eligibility and assessment criteria to be considered.

Council strongly encourage any impacted business owners who would benefit from this assistance, to investigate options for submitting an application as soon as possible.

Council will be facilitating a workshop and information session on the Small Business Adaption Grant to be presented by Mr Russell Lowry, Townsville Small Business Financial Counsellor at 5.30pm Monday 25 May 2020.  Details on how to access the workshop and information session will be published on Council’s website and social media.

Links to the eligibility guidelines, details of what the grants can be used for and the application are available on Council’s website, COVID-19 page.