Grants available to FNQ businesses

Small businesses in FNQ are being encouraged to see if they’re eligible for grants of up to $30,000.

Over $108 million is already in the pockets of more than 12,400 small businesses across Queensland, thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s COVID-19 Business Support Grants.

The program, jointly funded by the Palaszczuk and Commonwealth Governments, provides grants to businesses impacted by Queensland lockdowns.

Minister for Employment and Small Business, Di Farmer, said FNQ businesses should check to see if they were eligible.

“If your business saw at least a 30% reduction in turnover during the recent Queensland lockdowns, even though Cook wasn’t in lockdown itself, you could be eligible for a grant of up to $30,000,” Minister Farmer said.

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said businesses should get in touch with any questions.

“Excluding Cairns, we’ve only had about 250 applications from FNQ businesses, and we want to make sure businesses know what support is open to them,” Ms Lui said.

“Please don’t rule yourself out. You can call our Small Business Hotline with any questions you have.

“Applying is straight forward, with template letters provided to make the process easier. We’ve doubled the number of staff working on the grants which means we’ve already processed thousands of applications.

“I want to be really clear: any eligible business that applies will receive the grant.”

Hamish Haslop of Mungumby Lodge near Rossville strongly encouraged other affected businesses to apply for the grant.  

“I really urge people to apply for these grants,” Hamish said.

It’s easy to sit around and complain but it takes a fair bit of work to adapt. This grant gave us the confidence to say we can adapt and survive.

“We are one of the lucky ones, our size has made us adaptable, and grants like this mean we have been able to adapt with confidence to the new conditions and challenges that we now face.

“This grant gave us the certainty that we could afford to hire another staff member from the local community.”

Ms Lui said the COVID-19 Business Support Grants are just one part of the government’s $14.2 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

“The best thing we can do for businesses is ensure our economy is growing, do everything we can to ensure any lockdowns are short and sharp, and keep businesses open and trading,” Ms Lui said.

“Here in Queensland, we didn’t have a lockdown that went for longer than three days until very recently. And Queenslanders did an incredible job to stop Delta in its tracks.

“Just like we were the first state to introduce a COVID economic stimulus package last year, we acted quickly again: applications for this support opened just one week after that lockdown ended and the first payments were being made the very next day.

“But we know businesses are feeling the impact of COVID-19 which is why we are providing this support, along with a $10,000 cleaning rebate for COVID exposure sites and nearly $50 million for tourism and hospitality businesses.

“$5,000 Business Basics Grants for regional small businesses are still open to businesses in Cook, but we expect these to close soon, so get your application in now.

“We’ve also recently announced a further $40 million of support for tourism businesses, giving those who’ve seen a 70% reduction in turnover grants of up to $50,000.

“In addition, in Far North Queensland we’ve provided around $18.6 million in COVID-19 Small Business Adaptation Grants, $8.3 million in payroll tax relief businesses, around $66 million in Jobs Support loans, and a range of measures in our $140 million Big Plans for Small Business strategy.

“There’s also one-on-one support available, through our tailored Mentoring for Growth service, Small Business Financial Counsellors and the Queensland Small Business Commissioner.”

For more information on the COVID-19 Business Support Grants visit: www.business.qld.gov.au/supportgrants

For more information on Business Basics Grants visit: www.business.qld.gov.au/businessbasics

24/7 Small Business Hotline: 1300 654 687.

Image of Hamish and Isabella of Mungumby Lodge available here

ENDS

Media contact: Kate Talbot, 0439 803 211

All other enquiries: 1300 654 687