Published on 06/02/2020 by Any Business.Com.Au

Small Business and Bushfires: Am I Eligible for a Government Grant?

With small businesses reeling from the ongoing bushfire crisis, the Federal Government's $76 million recovery package has been a welcome announcement for small business owners across the country.

The package includes $20 million for marketing to domestic travellers and $25 million for a global tourism campaign to advise international visitors that Australia is "safe and open for business", as well as $10 million towards creating new attractions in bushfire affected regions of the country.

The Australian Tourism Industry Council estimates the bushfires have cost business owners "hundreds of millions" of dollars in much needed revenue, due to the perception that the "whole country is on fire".

The funding will provide grants of up to $1.5 million per project for events such as concerts and festivals — as well as permanent attractions such as art installations and tourist walks — in fire-affected regions, with the worst-impacted areas to be prioritised.

Small Businesses Trying to Bounce Back

Hundreds of small businesses are in the same desperate situation.

The North East regional tourism board reported more than 130 businesses suffered 100 per cent losses in the first week of January, with conservative estimates putting the North East tourism industry's first quarter down by $183-208 million.

Small business owners who had completed renovations prior to and were fully booked for the Christmas/Holiday period prior to the bushfire disaster are still trying to recoup losses, with many small-scale traders in the east of the state explaining that they are in need of an immediate income boost if they are to survive at all.

Am I Eligible for a Small Business Bushfire Recovery Grant?

Grants are available to Victorian small businesses (1-19 employees) and Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) that have sustained damage as a result of the Victorian bushfires beginning 21 November 2019.

An initial amount of up to $25,000 is available to support an initial claim, with evidence of the direct damage such as photographs, quotations, tax invoices or official receipts required.

A subsequent amount of up to $25,000 is available to support subsequent claims, with full evidence of payment required.

For your small business to be eligible for the grant, you must:

• be a small business owner
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster
• own a small business located in a defined disaster area that has suffered direct damage as a result the Victorian bushfires commencing 21 November 2019
• have been engaged in carrying on the small business when affected
• be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application
• be intending to re-establish the small business in the defined disaster area

Applications from businesses that employ 20 or more full time employees but have a turnover of less than $50 million may also be considered following submission to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency.

For more information or to apply click here.

Bushfires to Bring Building and Construction Boost

With many parts of the country facing a long and arduous re-building phase as a result of the bushfire crisis, the building and construction industry is expected to receive a boost as a result.

Many builders, designers and architects are currently working together to provide planning, guidance and assistance to the re-construction of those towns worst hit by this year's bushfires.

One such example is The Australian Institute of Architects which is planning a number of schemes to leverage the skills of its members throughout 2020, beginning by making a number of its Acumen practice notes, relating to post-fire design and the provision of pro bono services, freely available on a new dedicated bushfire response website.

How Can I Help Small Businesses Affected by the Bushfires?

The summer holiday period is often the peak season for small businesses in rural towns to make money, and with the bushfires making it impossible for these businesses to operate, they're missing out on income that could support them throughout the quieter winter months.

In a brilliant display of the "Aussie Spirit", a number of community driven initiatives have been born as a result of the devastation caused to towns, tourism and small business income during the traditionally busy Christmas/New Year/School Holiday period.

Here are a few ways you can assist those small businesses affected.

Bring an empty esky to a fire-affected small town - The Empty Esky Bushfire Recovery initiative encourages Australians to visit a local bushfire-affected town with an empty esky to fill up with local produce and goods. This is just one of many inspiring initiatives to get behind; there's also Spend With Them, featuring local makers, goods and suppliers, as well as StayintheBush, which showcases rural accommodation.

Pay with cash - The best way to support fire-affected small businesses is to pay with cash. Many fire-affected towns are experiencing cashflow problems due to payment terminals and ATMs being offline or inactive. Employers need money to pay their staff, bills and general operational costs.

Plan a winter escape to the bush - The bushfire crisis wiped out the peak season for many rural small businesses, so book a holiday during the winter period instead.

Volunteer for a day - A volunteer-based organisation called BlazeAid works with families and individuals in rural Australia to help them recover from natural disasters. They organise volunteers to assist individuals and families affected by the fires to rebuild their communities. Anyone can register to be a BlazeAid volunteer and help small businesses rebuild fences and other damaged structures to ensure they can start operating again, as soon as possible.

AnyBusiness.com.au

Curtis is a leading expert in the business-for-sale industry, serving as a senior content creator at anybusiness.com.au.

With a career spanning over fifteen years, Curtis has accumulated extensive knowledge in the domain of business sales, acquisitions, and valuations. His deep understanding of market dynamics and his ability to translate complex industry jargon into accessible insights make him a trusted resource for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to buy or sell businesses.

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