Newcastle Small Business Grants
The past couple of years has been particularly challenging for a number of businesses, as they have had to deal with the impacts of COVID restrictions and bushfires. Thankfully, the Australian Government have responded to these challenges to provide a range of small business grants Newcastle, including some targeted at specific industries and others that cover a wide range of businesses.
This article only addresses the main grants available for businesses, however there are a number of different packages available, such as loans, voucher schemes and advice and mentoring. There are also some packages targeted at growing business in certain countries of the world.
It can be challenging to keep up with the latest information on what grants are available to you and when. Thankfully we are on hand to help. If you want guidance on what support packages are best for your business, speak to one of our advisors today.
Small business fees and charges rebate
The Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate scheme is run and administered by the NSW Government, which aims to help businesses recover from COVID restrictions. By reducing costs, businesses who successfully secure this funding and free up capital and use that to expand their business. In order to be eligible, businesses need to have overall Australian wages of less than $1.2 million in the 2020/21 financial year. In addition to this, they will need an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be physically located and operating in NSW.
Applications need to be made by 30 June 2022, and as part of this scheme businesses who are eligible can receive a $3,000 rebate. A full list of the charges and fees against which the scheme can be used against is available on the NSW Government website. The rebate can be offset against the following fees:
* 50% of the COVID-19 tests
* Licence fees – including liquor and food authority licences
* Tradeperson licence fees
* Event fees
* Outdoor seating fees
* Council rate fees
* Toll charges gained during business use
SafeWork Small Business Rebate
Ensuring that your staff have a safe working environment, and your customers are kept safe is vitally important in business. Thankfully this rebate scheme is in place to help with the business costs associated with it. Eligible businesses will need to have less than 50 full time equivalent employees, and they can receive up to $1,000. To be able to apply for the scheme, someone on behalf of the business (not necessary the owner) will need to attend a SafeWork NSW event.
Alfresco Restart Rebate
Due to concerns over catching COVID in indoor settings, dining outside has become an increasingly popular option. Many businesses responded to this by starting or expanding their outdoor eating areas, and this scheme is there to support businesses who did this.
At the time of writing, the Alfresco Restart rebate claim period has been delay, as the NSW Government provides urgent assistance to those affected by the recent floods. Under this scheme, small or medium food and beverage businesses who want to create or expand their outdoor dining area, are eligible for up to $5,000. The scheme applies to costs incurred between 14 October 2021 and 30 June 2022 – just over 9 months.
Jobs Plus Program
Businesses who are looking to start of expand their business operations in NSW (including Newcastle), can get support and reduce risks with the Jobs Plus Program. The benefits of the scheme include subsidised training packages, rebates for enabling infrastructure and payroll tax relief. To be eligible, Australian businesses need to employ 20 or more employees, and overseas businesses need to 80 or more employees. Both overseas and Australian businesses will need to demonstrate that they can create at least 30 full time jobs in NSW, prior to the end of June 2024.
Export Assistance Grants
Due to high demand the Export Assistance Grant scheme has been paused to new applicants, and those who have submitted applications are seeing delays in the processing of their applications. If additional funds for the scheme become available, the scheme will reopen and new applicants will be able to apply. Under the scheme, businesses who were exporting prior to COVID-19 or the impacts of drought and bushfires, can apply for up to $10,000.
Australia Japan Foundation Grant & Australia Korea Foundation Grant
The Austrian Japan and Austrian Korea Foundations are keen to strengthen relations between Australia and these two countries. Under these (separate) schemes, funding of between $5,000 and $40,000 is available for innovative projects that promote engagement between people between Australia and Japan, and develop partnerships between Australia and Korea. Both of these schemes have limited grant funds each year, so achieving funding under this scheme can be difficult for some businesses.
Wage subsidy for employers of Australian apprentices
All businesses regardless of their size, can apply for wage subsidy packages for Australian Apprentices. This scheme subsidises 50% of the wages of the apprentice, for any business which engages an apprentice between 31 March 2022 and 30 June 2022. The subsidy is capped at a maximum of $7,000 per quarter, per apprentice.
Commercial Landlord Hardship Grant NSW
Many commercial landlords provided rent relief to their tenants to help them with the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. Grants of up to $3,000 a month are available for businesses who provided rent waivers to their tenants in retail or commercial spaces. In order to be eligible for this grant, businesses need to have land holdings of less than $5 million, and would have needed to have provided rent relief between 14 January 2022 and 13 March 2022. A similar scheme was run in 2021, and businesses who claimed this relief can also apply for this fund.
This article above only provides a snapshot of the small business grants available to Newcastle businesses. These grants and packages can have a highly positive impact on your business, and in addition to these listed above there are a number of voucher schemes which Newcastle residents can spend in your business.
We have a track record of helping businesses that are seeking assistance. If you wish to find more information regarding these support programmes, speak to one of our representatives today.
