Businesses in the local region will be eligible for $10,000 bushfire recovery support grants from Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Local businesses were among the first in the state to be affected by last year's bushfires, but they have been forced to wait for this funding to come through.
The New England region was excluded when the grants were first announced for bushfire affected areas of the state.
READ MORE:
- How an Ebor resident coped with fire, drought and cancer (The Armidale Express)
- 'There was no warning': Wytaliba residents saw village burn (Glen Innes Examiner)
- Homes were lost in Stockyard Flat fire (Walcha News)
But on Wednesday, four local government areas in the region - Armidale, Glen Innes, Walcha and Tenterfield - were added to the list eligible for funding.
"While many areas across NSW were preparing for the terrible bushfire season to come, shires across our region were already in flames," Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said.
"That means for six months now businesses in towns like Ebor, Guyra, Glen Innes and Tenterfield, which rely on tourism and through traffic to keep their doors open, have experienced significant losses in revenue."
Mr Marshall said the funding would ease pressure on businesses by covering operating costs like salaries and utilities, helping them to seek financial advice to support recovery and cover improvements to the business which will make it more resilient in future disasters.
To be eligible, businesses must have experienced a 40 per cent drop in revenue over a three-month period, compared to last year, because of the bushfires.
"While there are guidelines in place for this grant, in recognition of the years of drought there is some discretion around businesses ability to prove their revenue decline and Service NSW will assist applicants to meet this requirement," Mr Marshall said.
He said these grants were about ensuring our small businesses survive and continue to support their communities post bushfire, drought and COVID-19.
"The only thing country communities haven't had thrown at them in the last 18 months is the kitchen sink," he said.
"Every dollar of government support makes a difference and works to keep locals in jobs and with the positive change in the seasonal conditions now is the hopefully the time they will start getting ahead.
"I urge business owners to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 to discuss the program and their eligibility."
Grants of up to $50,000 are also available for eligible small businesses directly impacted by the bushfires. Businesses that have received financial assistance via other grants may still be eligible for the $10,000 grants.
For more information on the $10,000 small business bushfire support grant you can visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-small-business-bushfire-support-grant.
