Upcoming Grants

The following grants are available to eligible businesses affected by the July 2020 lockdown.

The full details on eligibility & funding are still to be announced.

Licensed Hospitality Business

Funding Available: up to $30,000 depending on location and capacity.

The grant will be available to licensed pubs, clubs, hotels, bars, restaurants and reception centres.

Eligible businesses will also get their liquor license fees waived until 2021.

Outdoor Hospitality Support

Funding Available: $5,000 to adapt outdoor dining spaces and entertainment areas such as the purchase of umbrellas, furniture etc.

The grant will be available to Restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs

Sole Trader Support Fund

Funding Available: $3,000 to sole traders who operate from a commercial premises or location where they are the tenant or licensee.

The grant will be available to businesses such as, retail, accommodation and food services, creative and media, hairdressing, gyms, events, education and training.

Victoria – Round 3 Business Support Fund Grants

Opening date: 18th September 2020

The Victorian Government has announced the third round of the Business Support Fund Grants.

Businesses in Victoria can access grants between $10,000 to $20,000 based on their annual payroll and the following criteria:

To be eligible you must meet the below criteria:

• be a participant in the Commonwealth Government’s JobKeeper Payment scheme
• employ people
• be registered with WorkSafe on 30 June 2020
• have an annual payroll of less than $10 million in 2019-20
• be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) as at 30 June 2020
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 30 June 2020
• be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator.

Available Funding;

The amount of the grant is dependent on your annual payroll as follows:

• $10,000 for annual payroll less than $650,000
• $15,000 for annual payroll between $650,000 to $3 million
• $20,000 for annual payroll between $3 million to $10 million

Please contact us for further information.

Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund – VIC Only

The Victorian Government is offering grants of up to $3,000 per tenancy to eligible small private, individual and joint-owner landlords, who are facing financial hardship after reducing rent for their tenants.

Each grant amount will be equal to the amount of the rent waiver provided to the tenant, up to $3,000 per eligible tenancy

This fund will be open for applications from 21 August 2020 for eight weeks or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.

Grant Opening Date: 21 August 2020

Grant Closing Date: Eight weeks from opening or until funds are exhausted

Landlords can apply if they meet all the criteria.

• The applicant must have total taxable landholding of less than $1 million as shown by the 2020 State Revenue Office Land Tax Assessment.
• The applicant must be a private individual (i.e. a person) or joint landlords who are private individuals (i.e. not ownership through Self-Managed Superannuation Fund, Trust or any other incorporated entity).
• The applicant is a landlord (or are landlords) to one or more properties where a tenant is eligible for Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme CTRS in Victoria.
• The applicant has provided rent relief to the tenant in accordance with the current regulations (and as evidenced in the current lease agreement) that must be at least 30 percent of total rent payable, of which at least 50 percent of the rent relief is in the form of a waiver for the equivalent of a minimum three-month period: before the date of commencement of this Fund; or after the date of the commencement of this Fund.
• The applicant must be in financial hardship, or about to be in financial hardship, due to reducing rent for the relevant CTRS-eligible tenant.

Further Reductions to Land Tax

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Victorian Government has announced further land tax relief for landlords until 31 December 2020, in line with their extension to the commercial and residential tenancy relief scheme. 

• Landlords of residential and commercial properties who provide a 50% or more outright rent waiver of at least 3 months’ rent to eligible tenants can claim a 50% waiver of the property’s 2020 land tax and defer the remaining tax payment to 31 March 2021.
• Owner-occupiers of commercial properties can obtain a 25% waiver of the property’s 2020 land tax and defer the remaining tax payment to 31 March 2021, if their business meets either of the following conditions;

1. For a licensed pub, club or restaurant who has a general, full club or on-premises liquor licence:

• The annual turnover of the premises was no greater than $50 million in either the 2018-19 or 2019-20 financial year, and
• The premises turnover has reduced by at least 30% since March 2020.

2. For all other businesses:

• Annual aggregated turnover was no greater than $50 million in either the 2018-19 or 2019-20 financial year, and
• They are eligible for and participating in, the JobKeeper Payment scheme.

Southern Border Small Business Support Grant – NSW Only

The NSW Goverment has released a grant to assist those affected by the COVID-19 restrictions.

The grant can be used to meet unavoidable operating expenses, including utilities, salaries and rent, seeking financial, legal or other advice to support business, developing the business through marketing and communications activities or other supporting activities relating to the operation of the business.

Grant Opening Date:  8th September 2020

Grant Closing Date:    18th October 2020

The grant is available in Two tiers

First Tier – $5,000.00

Criteria

• Small Businesses suffered at least 30% decline in turnover since 8th July due to border closure.
• Decline Test: a decline in turnover of at least 30 per cent since 8 July 2020 compared to a period of at least two weeks between 30 March 2020 – 7 July 2020 inclusive.
• Gross wages for 2019/20 financial year needs to be below $900,000
• Annual Turnover needs to be more than $75,000

Tier 2 – $10,000

Criteria

• Small Businesses suffered at least 75% decline in turnover since 8th July due to border closure.
• Decline Test: a decline in turnover of at least 75 per cent since 8 July 2020 compared to a period of at least two weeks between 30 March 2020 – 7 July 2020 inclusive.
• Gross wages for 2019/20 financial year needs to be below $900,000
• Annual Turnover needs to be more than $75,000
• Business should have less than 20 FTE staff