The Queensland Government has released a grant to assist Queensland small businesses recover following the Southeast Queensland Rainfall and Flooding event from 22 February to 7 March 2022.

Eligibility
To be able to access this grant funding, the small business must:

1. Hold an Australian Business Number;
2. Own a business located within one of the following disaster areas and have suffered direct damage as result of the disaster:
   • Brisbane City Council
   • Fraser Coast Regional Council
   • Gladstone Regional Council
   • Gold Coast City Council
   • Goondiwindi Regional Council
   • Gympie Regional Council
   • Ipswich City Council
   • Lockyer Valley Regional Council
   • Logan City Council
   • Moreton Bay Regional Council
   • Noosa Shire Council
   • North Burnett Regional Council
   • Redland City Council
   • Scenic Rim Regional Council
   • Somerset Regional Council
   • South Burnett Regional Council
   • Southern Downs Regional Council
   • Sunshine Coast Regional Council
   • Toowoomba Regional Council

3. Be responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application; and
4. Intend to re-establish the small business in the disaster area.

Applicants may also be eligible for the grant if:

• The small business is located outside the defined disaster area but is operated sometimes in the area; and
• Plant or equipment of the small business situated in the disaster area has been damaged as a result of the disaster.

This grant can assist impacted small businesses with the following:

1. Engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of damage to a property, premises, or equipment;
2. Purchasing, hiring, or leasing equipment or materials to clean a property, premises, or equipment;
3. Employing a person to clean a property, premises, or equipment if –
   • The cost would not ordinarily have been incurred in the absence of the eligible disaster; 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 eligible disaster.

4. Removing and disposing of debris or damaged goods and material;
5. Repairing a building or replacing fittings in a building, if the repair or replacement is essential for resuming operation of the small business;
6. Purchasing, hiring, or leasing equipment or materials that are essential for immediately resuming operation of the small business; and
7. Any of the following:

• Replacing lost or damaged stock if the replacement is essential for immediately resuming operation of the small business;
• Leasing temporary premises for the purpose of resuming operation of the small business.

Eligible applicants can access up to $50,000 in assistance via two payments:

• An initial amount of up to $15,000 is available to support. Photographs, quotations, tax invoices and official receipts are required to support the initial application; and
• An amount of up to $35,000 is available to support subsequent claims when full evidence of payment is provided.

Applications for the grant close on 5 September 2022.

If you would like further information in relation to the above grant funding program or if you would like assistance in applying for this grant, please contact Naomi Green on 07 4688 8400.

These times are extremely tough and challenging for many people and businesses and it is now more important than ever to reach out for support when you need it. Contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.