As the state begins to open up, residents and businesses can enjoy eased restrictions with welcomed warmer months.

There are a range of new funding options and cash grants available to businesses who have been impacted by recent lockdowns. These include:

• grants for construction industry
• grants for creative workers
• grants for outdoor dining & entertainment
• grants for First Nations’ businesses
• nbn grants for regional and remote businesses
• rebate for deep cleaning.

Below we have simplified the support available to help you understand what you may be eligible for.

If you have any questions, would like assistance with applying for funding or are after a second opinion please contact us. We are here to help and have helped thousands of businesses in the last 18 months to receive funding they are eligible for. Call us on 03 5443 0344 or email afs@afsbendigo.com.au

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Construction – Business Costs Assistance Program

WHAT: A one-off payment from $2,000 to $8,400, depending on payroll size:

• $2,000 for non-employing businesses
• $2,800 for employing businesses with annual payroll below $650,000
• $5,600 for employing businesses with an annual payroll between $650,000 and less than $3 million
• $8,400 for employing businesses with an annual payroll between $3 million and $10 million.

WHO: Eligible Victorian sole traders and businesses must:

• hold an ABN and have held that ABN on and from 24 September 2021
• be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator (such as ASIC)
• be registered for GST on and from 24 September 2021
• have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
• operate in an eligible sector listed in the list of eligible ANZSIC classes for this program
• have been contracted (prior to the restriction period being announced) to undertake, or supply workers to undertake, work at a construction worksite that was shut down due to the COVID-19 restrictions announced 20 September 2021 in one of the following areas:
  • Metropolitan Melbourne
  • City of Greater Geelong
  • Mitchell Shire
  • Surf Coast Shire
• have incurred direct costs because of the restrictions in effect from 21 September to 4 October 2021 and cannot and were not able to operate remotely.

Employing businesses must also:

• be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
• attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements during the construction sector shutdown, and supported their causal workers, where possible.

Non-employing businesses:

• the business owner must hold a WorkSafe Construction Induction Training Card (white card or ‘ticket’) or interstate equivalent issued by a comparable governing authority in another Australian state or territory.

Applcations are now open until Tuesday 9 November 2021.

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Creative industry grant – Sustaining Creative Workers

WHAT: Grants of up to $10,000.

• Up to $5,000 for individuals, sole traders and freelancers.
• Up to $10,000 for collectives, groups and micro businesses (with less than five FTE).

Up to $2,500 in additional access funding is available for applications from Deaf and Disabled creatives, artists, arts workers, and disability-led organisations/businesses.

Recipients can use their grant for activities such as but not limited to:

• planning, adapting and relaunching work
• research and professional development
• products and/or skills development
• exploration of new ways to engage audiences for existing or new work and/or
• development/exploration of markets for your creative work.

WHO: Eligible applicants can work in any creative discipline, including those who support creative activity such as producers and technicians. Applicants can be at any stage of their professional career or business.

Applications are now open under two rounds, closing 26 October and 22 November 2021.

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Grants for outdoor area activation – COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program

WHAT: Grants of $2,000 for places that spend at least that amount to support initiatives such as outdoor hospitality and entertainment.

WHO:

• Victorian businesses
• Community organisations
• not-for-profits
• trader associations.

Hairdressers, beauty services, retail shops, dance studios and gyms will also be eligible to apply for vouchers to join in harnessing the opportunities of kerbside trading.

The vouchers will be valid for expenses including purchasing and hiring marquees, screens and umbrellas, obtaining insurance and promoting outdoor operations.

The fund will also help councils to provide immediate assistance to businesses to operate outdoors, through physical improvements such as new street furniture, landscaping, marquees, planter boxes and public art, as well as entertainment to bring our outdoor precincts to life.

Funding breakdown: Funding will be allocated based on the level of business activity, with:

• metropolitan councils to receive between $300,000 and $800,000
• regional councils $300,000–$500,000
• rural councils $100,000–$250,000.

We will update this page when applications open. For full details see the button below.

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First Peoples’ COVID-19 Business Support Fund

WHAT: $6,000 grant

Grants can be used to:

• meet business costs, including utilities, stock, salaries or rent
• seek financial, legal or other advice to support business continuity planning
• develop the business through marketing and communications activities
• address supply chain and logistics challenges
• pivot the business to the current environment
• conduct other supporting activities related to the operation of the business.

WHO: This fund is open to Victorian Aboriginal businesses (including sole traders and self-employed businesses) that meet all of the following criteria:

• are a Victorian business
• hold an ABN and held that ABN on 27 May 2021
• are certified as an Aboriginal business through Kinaway Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce
• have a minimum annual turnover of $30,000 (or pro-rata turnover if an annual turnover is not available)
• have been impacted by trading health restrictions.

Charitable organisations, community organisations, co-operatives and Australian public companies are not eligible for funding under this program.

Applications are now open and close Tuesday 7 December 2021. For full details and to apply click the button below.

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NBN regional and remote business grants

WHAT: $10,000 – $25,000 grants for businesses in a range of industries, located in regional and remote areas. The grants are to encourage investment in technology-led ideas, with the aim of facilitating and supporting further growth.

WHO: The grants program is for seven specific categories and an overall Champion award. Categories include:

• Women in business
• Health
• Arts
• Education
• Agriculture
• Tourism
• Indigenous businesses.

Businesses eligible for the grants will include those who are:

• Harnessing the benefits of the nbn™ network to enable regional Australians to live, learn and work in a digital society
• Innovative digital businesses challenging the traditional markets in regional Australia
• Businesses who are lifting digital participation and stimulating regional economies
• Champions of digital adoption for regional and remote communities.

Applications close 30 November. For full details and to apply click the button below:

COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate

WHAT: A rebate of up to 80% of deep cleaning costs capped to $10,000 ($12,500 cost total).

The rebate is to cover the cost of hiring professional cleaning services to conduct a ‘deep clean’ or ‘decontamination clean’ of business premises or worksite where it has been an exposure site.

WHO: To be eligible businesses must:

• operate from a worksite or premises in Victoria where a person suspected or was confirmed to have COVID-19
• have undertaken a ‘deep clean’ or ‘decontamination clean’ of the affected worksite
• have evidence of the expenditure
• hold an ABN
• have an annual payroll of less than $3 million
• be registered with WorkSafe if employing people.

This rebate is ongoing with no end date currently. For more details and to apply click the button for more:

If you have any questions or would like assistance please don’t hesitate to contact our team.

AFS & Associates Chartered Accountants
T: 03 5443 0344  •  E: afs@afsbendigo.com.au  •  61 Bull St, Bendigo VIC 3550