Support for ACT businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions

COVID-19 Business Support Grant

The Business Support Grant will provide one-off grants of $20,000 for employing businesses and $7,500 for non-employing businesses that can provide evidence of a 30 per cent reduction in turnover revenue in a consecutive 7-day period during the declared lockdown (from 13 August to 17 September). This will need to be compared with a consecutive 7-day period from April 2021 to August 2021. 

To obtain the grant you will need to prove that:

• You meet the eligibility criteria; and
• You have been impacted by the recent restrictions.

Is my business eligible?

To be eligible for the grant your business must:

• Have a valid ABN
• Be able to demonstrate that as at 1 April 2021 it primarily operated in the ACT
• Have an annual turnover of more than $75,000 (excluding GST)
• Be registered for GST before April 2021
• Have total payroll of less than $10 million.

What evidence do I need?

The following is not an exhaustive list of what can be used as evidence:

• Extracts from your accounting software of turnover comparison;
• Emails or texts to or from suppliers and clients detailing cancellations or postponement of projects or orders;
• Receipts for refunds provided;
• Appointments or project programs that can demonstrate cancellations of bookings or postponement in projects programs; and/or 
• Screenshots of cancelled events.

Business are required to retain supporting information for two years. A short video to assist members in demonstrating a 30 per cent decline in turnover.

COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme

Small businesses with a turnover between $30,000 and $10 million per annum that have experienced a 30 per cent loss in revenue as a result of COVID-19 restrictions will also be eligible to apply to receive credits for payroll tax, utility charges, rates and other selected fees and charges up to a maximum of $10,000 per operator. 

If I apply for the COVID-19 Business Support Grant, can I also apply for the small business hardship scheme? 

Yes, if you are eligible for each scheme you can apply. Further details will be available on the ACT Government COVID-19 website shortly.

You can express your interest in these schemes.

Visit ACT Government COVID-19 website for more information on how to apply.

COVID-19 Disaster Payments for impacted employees

If your employees experience a significant reduction in hours due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on your business, they may be eligible for the Disaster Payment wage support.

To find out more, contact HIA's Workplace Services team

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