Bakeries, butchers, hairdressers, mechanics, pubs, cafes and physiotherapists are among thousands of small and medium-sized businesses to have begun receiving $3,000 and $1,000 emergency cash grants as part of the Marshall Government’s sweeping new $100 million Business Support Package.
Nearly 5000* SA businesses that suffered a significant loss of income or were forced to close as a result of the state’s 7-day lockdown have already received the grants – totalling $14.5 million – with thousands more expected to be paid in coming days and weeks.
And many microbusinesses not registered for GST, can now access the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment of $600 (if a person has lost over 20 hours’ work) or $375 (between 8 and 20 hours work lost) for the seven-day period.
It comes as Premier Steven Marshall urged South Australians to get out and support their local businesses who had been doing it tough in recent days.
“South Australians have done an incredible job of working together to get through the lockdown, and now is the time to continue to pull together to support our hardworking small businesses who are the backbone of the state’s economy,” said Premier Marshall.
“These cash grants are part of our strong plan to protect South Australians jobs from the COVID-19 threat. Our State has the highest business confidence in the nation and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with local businesses as we navigate our way out of this pandemic.
“Whether it’s a restaurant meal or a takeaway coffee and a donut, a haircut, a spot of retail therapy or even a car service – let’s show that same South Australian spirit that has served us so well to date.
“As a Government, our focus remains firmly on getting these grants out the door and into the pockets of our small businesses as quickly as possible to support jobs – and we will continue to monitor other industry sectors to assess what, if any, further assistance may be required.”
The cash injection will help businesses cover ongoing operating costs, such as rent, power bills, supplier and raw material costs.
Payments, to date, have been fast-tracked using information for businesses sourced from previous successful small business grant rounds. The application portal for all businesses is expected to become available on the Treasury and Finance website in the next 48 hours. Applications will be open until 30 September 2021.
Background
Modelled on similar schemes in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, the SA grants apply to those businesses with a payroll of less than $10 million, with an annual turnover of $75,000 or more (in 2020-21 or 2019-20) and whose turnover is reduced by at least 30 per cent over the 7 days from 20 July 2021 as a result of the lockdown.
A $1,000 cash grant is available for eligible small businesses who don’t employ staff (eg non-employing sole traders).
More than 20,000 businesses have registered their interest in the grants via the Treasury website https://treasury.sa.gov.au/sbg
*4,790 have received the $3,000 grant while 139 businesses who don’t employ staff, eg non-employing sole traders, received the $1,000 grant.
