COVID Small Business Hardship Grants have opened today!
If you are unsure if you qualify, contact your Client Manager to assist you.
To recap, below are details of the Hardship Grant and other grants available.
What support is available:
Level 2 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package
A new COVID-19 Business Assistance Package has been announced for Western Australian businesses who have experienced a 50 per cent decrease in business for any two week period since 1 January 2022. This program will provide support to all eligible businesses that meet the criteria.
Small Business Hardship Grants
To be eligible for the Small Business Hardship Grants, businesses must:
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million and an annual turnover of more than $50,000 excluding GST
- Be able to demonstrate a 50 per cent reduction in revenue for any four-week consecutive period between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021.
Eligible applicants will receive a tiered grant payment, dependant on the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees of the business. For the purpose of this calculation, the business owner is excluded from the FTE calculation.
- Sole traders (non-employing businesses) will be eligible for payments of $3,000
- Micro businesses, with one to five employees, will be eligible for payments of $7,500
- Small businesses, with six to 19 employees, will be eligible for payments of $20,000
- Medium sized businesses employing 20 people or more, will be eligible for payments of $50,000
Who can apply? This program is open to ALL eligible businesses that meet the criteria – including the hospitality, arts and events industries.
If you believe you have had a decrease in turnover please contact our office today for us to assist you.
Payroll tax waiver
Larger hospitality businesses that have a turnover of between $4 million and $20 million will be eligible for a three-month payroll tax waiver if they have experienced at least a 50 per cent drop in turnover over any four week period between January 1, 2022 and April 30, 2022, comparable to the same period last year.
Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package
Tenant Rental Relief Scheme
Small business tenants can apply for rental relief grants of $3,000.
To be eligible for the Rent Relief small business must meet the following criteria:
- Have an annual turnover of more than $50,000.
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million.
- Be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction in revenue for any six-week consecutive time frame between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021.
- Provide proof of tenancy (lease) in WA (excluding Government tenants).
Applications will be managed by the Small Business Development Corporation and more details will be available soon.
Landlord Rent Relief Incentive
Landlords who voluntarily match the Government’s Tenant Rent Relief payments of $3,000 per tenant will be eligible for an incentive payment of $1,500. Eligibility criteria includes:
- Landlords have provided rent relief of $3,000 to small business tenants that:
- experience a 30 per cent reduction in revenue for any four-week consecutive time frame between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021;
- with the tenanted premises located in WA.
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million.
- Have a tenanted premises located in WA.
Applications will be managed by the Small Business Development Corporation and more details will be available soon.
Tenant Rental Credit Scheme (Government tenants)
Business tenants of Government buildings (including Government Trading Enterprises) will be offered rent relief of $6,000 provided they meet the following criteria:
- Have an annual turnover of more than $50,000.
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million.
- Be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction in revenue for any six-week consecutive time frame between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021.
- Provide proof of tenancy (lease) of a WA Government-owned building in WA.
Relevant agencies will deliver this grant directly to tenants through a rental waiver/credit process. No application is necessary.
Outdoor dining and entertainment support package
Alfresco support package
Small businesses in the hospitality sector may be eligible for up to $5,000 reimbursement of eligible costs associated with creating and expanding an alfresco area to meet the requirements of public health and social measures.
Eligibility criteria include:
- Have an annual turnover of more than $50,000.
- Have a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million.
- Operate in the food and beverage industry.
- Have a local government approved alfresco plan.
Applications will be managed by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and more details will be available soon.
Waiver of Liquor Licencing fees
- Liquor licence renewal fees for 2022 will be waived and refunds provided for businesses that have already paid. If you are eligible for a refund, you will be contacted by the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) with instructions to follow. If DLGSC does not have your current email address, you can complete an online refund form.
- Fees will be waived for new permit applications or variations to existing permits to enable extended alfresco trading.
- One-off fees for variations to liquor licencing to enable alfresco services will also be waived, and fees for a COVID-19 occasional permit will be waived to permit the sale of take-away alcohol as part of a take-away meal.
All licenced liquor businesses will be eligible, unless exempted.
Independent Performing Arts, Theatres and Cinemas Assistance Program
This program will provide payments of up to $50,000 to provide cash flow assistance to a range of larger, indoor entertainment venues that are particularly affected by capacity constraints. Payments will be based on the seating capacity limit. Eligible venues include:
- Regional and outer metropolitan Performing Arts venues network (Circuit West)
- Other Independent Theatres:
- The Astor
- The Regal
- Palace/ Luna Cinemas including:
- Raine Square
- Luna Leederville and SX
- Windsor
- Cygnet cinema
To be eligible, venues must:
- Be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction in revenue for any six-week consecutive time frame between 1 January 2022 to 30 April 2022, compared to the equivalent period in 2021
In case you missed these grants from December 2021…
Small Business Assistance Grant – December 2021
Applications are now open for the Small Business Assistance Grant – December 2021 to assist small businesses that were directly financially impacted by the Chief Health Officer’s COVID Restrictions (Directions) from 23 December 2021 to 4 January 2022.
The Small Business Assistance Grant – December 2021 is available to small businesses operating within the hospitality sector, the music events industry or the creative and performing arts sector.
Eligible employing businesses will receive $1,130 for each impacted day (up to a maximum of $12,500), while eligible non-employing small businesses will receive $400 for each impacted day (up to a maximum of $4,400).
The final grant payment available will be based upon the number of days that your business was impacted over this period, as demonstrated in your application and supporting evidence.
Safe Transition Industry Support package
On 10 February 2022, the Premier announced a $77 million support package to provide financial assistance to small and medium sized businesses in the following industries:
- International Education
- Tourism
- Aviation
- Events
Visit WA.gov.au for more information.
Please contact our office today and speak to your Client Manager to see if we can assist you with the application for these grants when they become available.