NSW Northern Beaches COVID-19 Hardship Grants

Small businesses that experienced hardship as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions on the Northern Beaches will have access to grants designed to help cover unavoidable expenses.

Over Christmas, the Northern Beaches community commendably helped control the spread of the virus by adhering to a 3-week lockdown.

However, doing so materially impacted many businesses as this coincided with what is normally the busiest period associated with Christmas and New Year festivities.

As a result, many businesses – particularly in the hospitality, lifestyle and retail sectors – were placed under added pressure and started 2021 behind the rest of the state.

Minister for Finance and Small Business, Damien Tudehope, said a new funding program would provide for the roll out of $3,000 and $5,000 hardship grants to eligible Northern Beaches businesses that were most impacted.

The grants are intended to cover unavoidable costs for which no other government support is available such as utilities, rent, financial or legal advice and other activities that support business operation.

A tiered approach is being taken to prioritising cases

Tier 1: $3,000 is for small businesses that have suffered a minimum 30 per cent decline in turnover due to the Northern Beaches lockdown

Tier 2: $5,000 is for small businesses that have suffered a minimum 50 per cent decline in turnover

In addition to the $3,000 and $5,000 grants, the Government will implement a range of other measures that include industry-specific information on public health restrictions, better access to existing support and promoting the region as a tourist destination.

Eligibility guidelines

Tier One: $3,000 grant
Small businesses and not-for-profits that were subject to the Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 (‘the Northern Beaches Public Health Order’) will be eligible for a one-off $3,000 Northern Beaches Hardship Grant if you:

  • Are a non-employing business or a business with fewer than 20 full-time equivalent staff
  • Have an Australian Business Number registered in, or can demonstrate you are physically located and primarily operating in the Northern Beaches Local Government Area
  • Experienced a decline in turnover of at least 30 per cent due to the Northern Beaches Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 19 December 2020 to 10 February 2021 compared to the same time last year
  • Have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020-21 payroll tax threshold of $1,200,000 as at 1 July 2020
  • Have annual turnover of more than $75,000 as at 1 March 2020, and
  • Had unavoidable business costs during the Northern Beaches lockdown (e.g. rent) for which there is no other government support available.

Tier Two: $5,000 grant
Small businesses and not-for-profits that were subject to the Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 (‘the Northern Beaches Public Health Order’) will be eligible for a one-off $5,000 Northern Beaches Hardship Grant if you meet all the eligibility criteria for the $3,000 (tier one) grant above, except you must have experienced a decline in turnover of at least 50 per cent due to the Northern Beaches Public Health Order over a minimum two-week period from 19 December 2020 to 10 February 2021 compared to the same time last year.

Need help?

More information on these grants and how to apply will be made available in coming weeks.

In the meantime, to discuss your potential eligibility for grant funding, or for preparation of an application, please contact your Allan Hall Advisor on 02 9981 2300.

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