Border impact grants for local businesses

All Edward River and Murray River businesses are being encouraged to apply for a special grants program designed to ‘‘cushion the economic impacts’’ of COVID-19 related border closures.

Deniliquin Business Chamber president Paula Rutter said the Southern Border Small Business Support Grant, which is $5000 or $10,000 per business depending on how significantly it has been impacted, is welcomed but will not benefit all local businesses.

‘‘Just being in the region does not make you automatically eligible for the grants,’’ she highlighted.

‘‘We encourage all businesses to have a look at the eligibility guidelines and see if their individual circumstances align with the grant criteria to apply.

‘‘It will be a great help to accommodation providers who have lost bookings as a result of the border closure, and Victorians not being able to

Wales.’’

The first tier of $5000 is for employing and non-employing small businesses, such as non-employing sole traders, which have suffered at least a 30 per cent decline in turnover as a result of the border closure.

The second tier of $10,000 is for employing small businesses that have suffered at least a 75 per cent decline as a result of the closure.

The Southern Border Small Business Support Grant can only be used for eligible expenses incurred following the introduction of the NSW and Victoria border permit scheme on July 8.

Applications open on September 8, for six weeks.

Chamber executive officer Lauren Ryan said businesses who need assistance in completing their application are encouraged to reach out to chamber, the Business Enterprise Centre or the Rural Financial Counselling Service.

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