Open Call: Small Business Emergency Response Grant Program (Australia)

The Small Business Emergency Response Grant Program (Program) is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Government of Tasmania under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The program is administered by the Tasmanian Department of State Growth (Department).

Small businesses play an integral part in local economies and communities, and businesses affected by the event may require extraordinary support to recovery.

Objectives

• The objectives of the Program are to assist small businesses that were impacted by the event:
  • with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement
  • to continue or recommence operations as soon as possible where the impact has been severe

Funding Information

• The maximum grant amount available is $25,000.
• Tier One: An initial one-off amount of $2,500 is available.
• Tier Two: A subsequent one-off amount of up to $22,500 is available.

Eligible Costs

• Grants can be used to help pay for costs associated with the following:
  • engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of damage to a property, premises or equipment;
  • hiring and/or leasing equipment or purchasing materials to clean a property, premises or equipment;
  • paying additional wages to an existing employee, or employing a person to clean a property, premises or equipment if:
    • the cost would not ordinarily have been incurred in the absence of the event; or
    • the cost exceeds the cost of employing a person to clean the property, premises or equipment that would ordinarily have been incurred in the absence of the event;
• removing and disposing of debris, damaged goods and materials;
• removing and disposing of spoiled goods and stock due to power outage;
• essential repairs to premises and internal fittings (for example, floor coverings, electrical rewiring, shelving), if the repair is essential for resuming operation of the small business. If the repair or replacement is for small businesses that are home based, applicants are only permitted to claim the costs for damage to the premises which is directly attributable to the business, not other household damage;
• purchasing, hiring or leasing equipment or materials that are essential for immediately resuming operation of the small business and;
• any of the following:
  • replacing lost or damaged stock if it is essential to enable the immediate resumption in operation of the small business;
  • leasing temporary premises for the purpose of resuming operation of the small business (within the same municipality).

Ineligible Costs

• Grants cannot be used to help pay for costs associated with the following:
  • loss of income as a result of the event;
  • payment of employee salaries that would have ordinarily been incurred by the small business had the severe weather event not occurred;
  • costs not related to damage caused by the event;
  • if the applicant has received, or has been approved to receive, an amount under a policy of insurance for the relevant costs claimed. The applicant may be eligible for a grant for the portion of costs that are not covered by their insurance, or for amounts in excess of the value insured;
  • repayment of existing debts or budget deficits;
  • purchase of land or property;
  • purchase of core business capital equipment such as motor vehicles, mobile phone handsets and office equipment;
  • administrative, overhead, operational and/or maintenance costs not related to eligible activities;
  • improvements or repairs to residences;
  • business as usual activities;
  • costs that require on-going funding;
  • feasibility and planning studies;
  • in-kind works;
  • temporary works, other than those required to enable completion of the approved project;
  • profit margins of the applicant including (but not limited to) the applicant’s supply or use of plant, labour, or materials;
  • costs not relating to eligible activities.

Outcomes

• The Program will contribute to the following outcomes:
  • minimizing disruption across the state and assisting communities to recover
  • to assist small businesses, continue or re-commence activity
  • contribute to the restoration of social and community networks, and the economic recovery of impacted communities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Tier One:
  • be a sole operator or a small business employing 19 or less full-time equivalent employees (FTEs);
  • holds an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the event;
    • Applicants who operate more than one business under a single ABN may submit multiple applications, however the applications must apply to different businesses and cannot include the same claims.
  • have been engaged in carrying on the small business when affected by the event;
  • have suffered direct damage to premises and/or tools of trade (e.g. equipment, plant) and/or stock as a direct result of the event; e. provide satisfactory evidence of the loss or damage being claimed; and f. be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application.
• Tier Two
  • They have been assessed as successful under Tier One.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Businesses with 20 or more full time employees (FTEs).
• Businesses that were not open for business immediately prior to 26 August 2024.
• Not-for-profit organisations, incorporated associations, or charities unless the organisation is operating as a business employing paid staff and/or selling goods and services that make up more than 30 per cent of their income.
• Any public company under the meaning as defined in the Corporations Act 2001.
• Any business that is trading insolvent, under external administration or bankruptcy.
• Investment entities including unit trusts that solely generate passive turnover from residential and commercial property investment rentals.
• Any government body, government agency or government business enterprise.
• Any business that submits an application without the required supporting evidence.
• Applicants are not eligible to apply for a Small Business Emergency Response Grant as well as a Primary Producer Emergency Response Grant and/or a Non-Profit Organisation Emergency Response Grant.

For more information, visit Tasmanian Governments.