Small Business Bushfire Support Grant Extended to Coffs and Bellingen

Today the NSW Government announced that the Small Business Bushfire Support Grant of $10,000 would be expanded to 13 new Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Coffs Harbour. The expansion will be jointly funded by Commonwealth and NSW Governments.

This grant will now be available to small businesses in Coffs Harbour City Council LGA and Bellingen Shire Council LGA that have experienced a significant decline in revenue, specifically a decline in revenue of 40% or more in a relevant three-month period because of the bushfires (compared to the same period in the previous year).

A decline in revenue as a result of bushfire may include multiple scenarios. This evidence requirement may be demonstrated when the business was in a defined disaster area and subject to at least one of:

• an evacuation order or tourism leave order
• other supply chain interruptions or stock damage resulting in reduced sales, such as road closures and utility disconnections, or
• significantly reduced customer numbers, such as through consumer perception of danger and smoke haze.

The application process for this grant has been simplified so eligible small businesses can access funds as quickly as possible. The grant may be used for, but is not limited to:

• meeting standard business costs, including utilities, salaries and rent
• seeking financial advice to support the recovery of the business
• adjusting the business to be viable in the changed local context following the bushfires
• developing the business and extending business reach through marketing and communications activities, or
• improvements to make the business more resilient to future disasters.

Applications from the newly included LGAs will be open from Thursday 23 April.

For more information click on the link below or contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or via their Business Concierge.