Media Release by The Hon Larry Anthony MP

$10,000 to help flood affected small businesses

A one-off grant of up to $10,000 will go some way to helping flood affected businesses on the NSW north coast, Minister for Community Services Larry Anthony said today.

“The Small Business Grant component of the Government’s Flood Assistance Package will provide some relief for those communities suffering from this natural disaster,” Mr Anthony said.

“The grant aims to relieve the pressure that the floods have placed on small businesses in the region.”

The Small Business Grant helps small businesses whose premises have been damaged by flooding get back to normal quickly.

“The grant is not subject to an income or assets test,” Mr Anthony said.

Applicants may receive a one-off payment of up to $10,000 as a reimbursement of costs incurred for restoration after flooding that occurred in March 2001.

To be eligible a business must:

  • have been in existence at the time of the flooding in that area; and
  • be in a declared Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements (NDRA) shire; and
  • be a small or medium business on the ABS test of number of employees. Small is less than 20 employees and medium is 20 to 199; and
  • not be part of a national chain or company but be locally owned or registered or operated. Franchises are eligible.

“Small businesses must apply for the grant with their nearest Centrelink office and claims must be lodged with Centrelink before 1 June 2001,” said Mr Anthony.

For more information on the Government’s Flood Assistance Package Small Business Grant, call 1800 050 585.