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2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants Available

August 20, 2021

The Queensland Government has released a grant program to support eligible Queensland businesses that have been directly and indirectly affected by the August 2021 COVID-19 lockdowns.  The program is designed to support employing small and medium sized businesses and not for profit organisations in Queensland meet their business expenses.

Noting the impact that COVID-19 has had on the Tourism and Hospitality sector, the program is also available for employing large businesses and not for profit (NFP) organisations in the Queensland tourism and hospitality sector. 

Applications are now open and funding will be provided to all eligible applicants, however grant funds will be distributed in the order of applications received.

What payments are available?

Eligible applicants will receive grant funding as follows:

  • A $10,000 grant for small businesses and NFP organizations with an annual payroll of less than $1.3 million;
  • A $15,000 grant for medium sized businesses and NFP organisations with an annual payroll of between $1.3 million and $10 million (inclusive);
  • A $30,000 grant for large sized tourism and hospitality focused businesses and NFP organisations with an annual payroll of more than $10 million.

Who is eligible to apply?

To be eligible for grant funding, a business or NFP organisation must (at the time of applying):

  • Employ staff (employees must be on employed on the business’ payroll);
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN), continuously held since 30 June 2021;
  • Have Queensland headquarters (i.e. the principal place of business is located in Queensland) and the impacted business was based and trading in Queensland on 31 July 2021;
  • Not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are insolvent or an undischarged bankrupt;
  • Have an annual payroll of not more than $10 million (except for large tourism and hospitality businesses identified in the tourism and hospitality sector);
  • Have an annual turnover of over $75,000 during any of the 2018-19, 2019-20 or 2020-21 financial years;
    • For a recently started business, it will be sufficient to provide financial records to indicate that this turnover requirement will be reasonably met in the 2021-22 financial year.
  • Demonstrate that the business was directly or indirectly affected by a lockdown event;
  • Demonstrate or declare a reduction in turnover of 30% or more during a nominated 7-day period which must include at least 1 full day of a lockdown event, when compared against turnover achieved by the entity during the same 7-day period in 2019. (If the 2019 period is not indicative of the entity’s typical weekly turnover – i.e. for a recently started business or a business that has experienced structural changes – a comparable 7-day period will suffice e.g. the same period in July/August 2020).

For this criteria:

Direct impact: businesses that must not operate as specified in the lockdown events can self-declare the impact on their turnover in the application form.

Indirect impact:  businesses that are able to operate for a limited purpose, or whose activities are not specified in the health directions for the lockdown event, or are located outside of the lockdown areas must provide evidence to show a reduction in turnover of more than 30%.

Lockdown event: 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in South East Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Noosa, Moreton Bay, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Sunshine Coast) affected between 31 July to 8 August 2021, and the Cairns and Yarrabah LGAs affected between 8 August and 11 August 2021.

  • Large tourism and hospitality businesses and NFP organisations must undertake business activities in one of the industry areas in the ANZSIC codes and meet all of the above eligibility criteria (although can have an annual payroll greater than $10 million).

Application process

Applications for funding must be submitted by 16 November 2021 via the QRIDA portal.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria above by providing a combination of financial and business data, such as payroll and turnover information, ABN and GST registration, and proof of trading location.  Business or ATO/BAS records can generally be used for this purpose.  A letter from a qualified accountant or registered Tax/BAS agent is also sufficient.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email.  Approved applicants will receive grant funds into their nominated bank account within two weeks of approval.

Within three to six months after the funding has been provided, recipients must agree to complete and submit an acquittal survey, which will include questions regarding how the grant funding was used.

All applicants must retain supporting evidence for their application.

We can help

For more information about the grant, determining your eligibility or compiling your application and substantiation documentation, contact our friendly team today on 07 3217 2477.