Business & Community Sport Flood Recovery Grants (Australia)

Deadline: 1-May-23

Applications are now open for the Business and Community Sport Flood Recovery Grants to support small businesses, not-for-profit and community sport and active recreation organisations that have suffered direct loss or damage from the 2022 Victorian floods.

The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements in relation to the Victorian Floods which commenced in October 2022 (the “2022 Victorian Floods”).

Funding Information

• The maximum grant amount available is $50,000
• The grant has a two-tiered evidentiary structure:
  • Tier 1
    • Up to $25,000 is available with evidence of direct damage and an outline of expected recovery costs. To make a claim under Tier 1 you can provide evidence of either estimated or actual costs. You must first apply for Tier 1 before progressing to Tier 2.
    • To apply under Tier 1, you must have expenses more than $5000, because the original $5000 you received under the Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program or the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program is included in this grant.
    • When you apply, you must have and retain evidence of either estimated or actual costs for all claims up to $25,000. You must provide a statutory declaration at the time of your application that includes an inventory of the claimed damage – this includes details to support the claims made under either the $5000 Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program or the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program when you apply.
  • Tier 2
    • Tier 2 encompasses subsequent grant payments totalling over $25,000, up to $50,000, which can be reimbursed with full evidence of payment for recovery costs (tax invoices and official receipts). This evidence of payment must also include any amounts initially claimed under Tier 1, including the initial $5000 grant.
• An applicant can make up to three claims. An applicant’s first claim must be for Tier 1. Up to a total of two subsequent claims can be made under either:
  • Tier 1 (if the total cumulative amount claimed is $25,000 or less); or
  • Tier 2 (if the total cumulative amount claimed exceeds $25,000).
• Applicants must provide the evidence as required for Tiers 1 and 2, to receive up to the total available amount of $50,000 under the program to the program. Each claim can only be approved if the preceding application and/or claim is approved.
• Where an applicant is approved for funding of $25,000 or less (Tier 1) and does not seek further payment under Tier 2, the department may request the applicant to provide evidence of payment within 12 months of receiving the Tier 1 grant for reconciliation, acquittal and transparency purposes.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be either:
  • a business or not-for-profit that has been successful under the Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program and continues to meet the eligibility criteria for that program; or
  • a community sport or active recreation organisation that has been successful under the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program and continues to meet the eligibility criteria for that program.
• To be eligible for the Business and Community Sport Flood Recovery grants, the small business or not-for profit applicant must:
  • be a sole trader or a business employing fewer than 20 full-time equivalent employees
  • hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN on and from 14 October 2022
  • be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on and from 14 October 2022
  • be a small business that is located in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster
  • have been engaged in carrying on the small business when affected by the eligible disaster
  • have suffered direct damage to premises and/or tools of trade
  • be intending to re-establish in the same community, region or sector as the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster
  • be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application
• In the instance of a non-employing business, the business owner must derive at least 50 per cent of their income from the business, as evidenced by a ‘Qualified Agent’.
• In the instance of a not-for-profit applicant must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-forprofit Commission (ACNC) or an equivalent State/Territory regulatory body and have held that registration at the time of the eligible disaster.
• To be eligible for the Business and Community Sport Flood Recovery Grants, a community sport or active recreation organisation must be:
  • delivering a sport or activity that is a person-centric physical activity. This includes active recreation organisations that encourage people to participate in nature-based, outdoor activities (including sporting activities at camps);
  • non-government and not-for-profit, and
  • a legal entity delivering in Victoria and can be any of the following entity types:
    • An incorporated association
    • A company limited by guarantee
    • An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation
  • be located in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster
  • have been engaged in carrying on their functions when affected by the eligible disaster
  • have suffered direct damage to premises and/or tools of trade (e.g. equipment, plant)
  • be intending to re-establish in the same community, region or sector as the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster
  • be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the applications

For more information, visit State Government of Victoria.

For more information, visit https://business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/business-and-community-sport-flood-recovery-grants