22.07.21 — (NSW)Grants, loans, and financial assistance for business

Carol K

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Grants, loans, and financial assistance

Last updated: 22 July 2027

COVID-19 business grant

A one-off payment to help businesses, sole traders or not-for-profit organisations impacted by the current Greater Sydney COVID-19 restrictions.

Grants between $7,500 and $15,000 are available to eligible businesses depending on the decline in turnover experienced during the restrictions.

For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/2021-covid-19-business-grant.

COVID-19 micro-business grant

A fortnightly payment for businesses with a turnover between $30,000 and $75,000.

How much

  • $1,500 per fortnight

Eligibility

  • A turnover between $30,000 and $75,000
  • A revenue decline of 30% or more
  • Businesses that provide the primary income source for a person associated with the

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/2021-covid-19-micro-business-grant

JobSaver payment

Fortnightly payments to help maintain employee headcount (as at 13 July) and provide cashflow support to businesses.

How much

  • Employing businesses: 40% of weekly payroll, with a minimum payment of $1,500 per week and a maximum payment of $10,000 per week
  • Non-employing business: $1,000 per

Eligibility

  • A revenue decline of 30% or more
  • Turnover between $75,000 and $50

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/jobsaver-payment.

Small business fees and charges rebate

As part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 stimulus and recovery plan, small businesses may apply for a rebate worth $1,500 to help them pay for government fees and charges.

For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/small-business-fees-and-charges-rebate

Payroll tax support

Tax assistance is available to help businesses impacted by COVID-19. Visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/covid-19-help-businesses/fee-waivers-and-tax-assistance

Tourism support package

The NSW Government’s tourism support package includes measures to support jobs in the accommodation, entertainment, and tourism sectors. Visit (https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/tourism-support-package)

Eligible accommodation businesses with a physical location in the City of Sydney local government area can register for the Stay & Rediscover Accommodation Voucher Scheme. (https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-business-stay-rediscover)

Dine & Discover NSW Voucher Scheme

The NSW Government has launched a voucher scheme to encourage the community to support hospitality, arts and tourism businesses.

Eligible businesses can now register for the scheme.

For more information, visit. (https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/dine-discover-nsw)

Sydney CBD Friday voucher program

The NSW Government has announced a new voucher program to encourage the community back into the Sydney CBD and support businesses impacted by COVID-19.

The program will offer 500,000 NSW residents 4 x $25 vouchers to spend at dining and entertainment venues in the Sydney CBD on Fridays.

COVID-Safe dining and entertainment businesses in the 2000 postcode will be able to register from spring. Customer applications are expected to open soon after.

More information will be available soon.

Jobs Plus program

The Jobs Plus program provides support to Australian and international businesses that want to start or expand their operations in NSW. Program support will help reduce the costs and financial risks of growing a business or moving its operations to NSW.

To be eligible for the program, Australian businesses must currently employ at least 20 workers and overseas businesses must employ at least 80 workers. All businesses must be able to create at least 30 net new full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in NSW before 30 June 2024. Further conditions apply.

For more information about eligibility criteria, as well as details about funding, visit https://mybusiness.service.nsw.gov.au/jobs-plus-program

Export assistance grant

An export assistance grant of up to $10,000 is available to eligible NSW businesses impacted by COVID-19, bushfires, or drought, to help your business access new global markets or re-enter old ones.

Eligible exporting businesses can apply for 50% reimbursement of certain export-enabling expenses, such as marketing and e-commerce, for expenses already paid since 1 January 2020.

For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-export-assistance-grant

Small and medium enterprise (SME) guarantee scheme

The Australian Government will guarantee 50% of the value of eligible business loans to small and medium enterprises impacted by COVID-19. The maximum loan value is $250,000 and there will be a repayment-free period of six months. For more information, visit the https://www.ausbanking.org.au/covid-19/the-business-relief-package/

Financial institutions

The Australian Banking Association has outlined 3 key stages to repayments for eligible business owners who continue to experience financial difficulty as a result of COVID-19. This includes options to pay in full, make partial payments or access further hardship assistance. Customers will need to contact their financial institutions to discuss the options available to them.

For details, visit Australian Banking Association (https://www.ausbanking.org.au/covid-support-phase-two/) or contact your banking institution directly.

Support for residential and commercial landlords and tenants

Eviction moratorium for residential tenants

A tenancy moratorium to restrict when landlords can evict tenants due to rental arrears is in place until 11 September 2021.

Residential landlords who decrease rent for impacted tenants can apply for a grant or land tax reductions depending on their circumstances.

Find out about the eviction moratorium and financial support for landlords.

Tenants in commercial or retail premises                                      

Protection will be offered for impacted tenants in commercial and retail tenancies in NSW. Landlords will not be able to lockout or evict impacted tenants without first going to mediation.

Eligibility

  • Tenants must have an annual turnover of $50 million or less
  • Tenants must be eligible for either the Micro-business COVID-19 Support Grant, the COVID-19 NSW Business Grant, or the JobSaver Scheme

Contact the Small Business Commissioner

Landlords leasing commercial properties

For landlords with tenants in financial distress. Landlords with commercial properties may be eligible for a land tax concession if they provide rent reductions to their tenants.

How much

  • Payment up to 100% of 2021 land tax on a parcel of land

Eligibility

  • For landlords who provide at least that much rental relief to tenants who are eligible for the
    • Micro-business COVID-19 Support Grant and/or
    • 2021 COVID-19 NSW Business Grant and/or
    • JobSaver scheme
  • Available for rent reductions made from now until 31 December 2021

For more information visit Revenue NSW

Landlords leasing residential properties

For landlords with tenants in financial distress. Landlords with eligible properties may be eligible for a land tax concession if they provide rent reductions to their tenants.

How much

Either

  • $1500 grant to residential landowners to pass onto their tenants, or
  • Concession of up to 100% of 2021 land tax

Eligibility

  • For landlords who provide at least that much rental relief
  • Tenants must have lost 25% or more of their income
  • Available for rent reductions made from now until 31 December 2021

For more information visit

  • NSW Fair Trading  (https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/publications/coronavirus-covid-19/property/moratorium)
  • Revenue NSW  (https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/news-media-releases/covid-19-tax-relief-measures/2021-land-tax-covid-19-relief-guidelines-jul-dec)

Support for accommodation and creative arts industries

Accommodation providers

Help will be available for eligible tourism accommodation providers that have lost business during the school holiday period. Assistance will be based on the number of cancelled ‘room nights’.

How much

  • $2,000 for up to 10 room nights
  • $5,000 for11 or m o r e room nights

Eligibility

  • For room nights lost during the 25 June to 11 July period
  • Must be able to show evidence of cancellations

Accommodation providers should first apply for a COVID -19 Business Grant https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/2021-covid-19-support-package/businesses-sole-traders-and-small-not-for-profits#covid-19-business-grants

NSW Performing Arts COVID Support Package

Payments to not-for-profits and select commercial theatres and commercial music venues to meet costs for current productions and ensure companies have a base to start from in rescheduling performances as restrictions start to ease.

How much

Eligible organisations will receive payments that are based on their venue capacity, average ticket price and an agreed percentage tied to the public health order

Eligibility

Eligible organisations will need to provide at a minimum evidence of performances scheduled, venues and average ticket prices.

Applications open in late July.

For more information about the NSW Performing Arts COVID Support Package visit. (https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-support/nsw-performing-arts-covid-support-package)