Small Business COVID Hardship Fund – Australia

Deadline: 10-Sep-21

Applications are now open for the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund to assists small to medium businesses whose operations have been severely impacted by COVID restrictions.

They recognise that their business community is doing it tough because of the global pandemic. The Victorian Government is always looking for more ways to support more businesses in need. That’s why the Victorian Government’s Small Business COVID Hardship Fund will assist eligible small and medium businesses:

whose operations have been severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place between 27 May 2021 and August 2021
that have experienced at least a 70% reduction in turnover as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions
that are ineligible for other key COVID-19 Victorian Government business grant programs that have been announced since 27 May 2021.

Funding Information

Grants of $10,000.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, businesses must:
- be located within Victoria
- as a direct consequence of COVID-19 restrictions since 27 May 2021 have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 70% for a minimum consecutive two-week period comparable to a benchmark period in 2019
- have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
- have been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on and from 28 July 2021
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN on and from 28 July 2021
- be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.
Employing businesses must also:
- be registered with Work Safe Victoria
- attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the COVID-19 restrictions, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.