Hardship payments

SMALL and micro businesses will be able to apply for their share of Covid-19 hardship payments after the state government lowered the qualifying threshold.

Small Business Minister Jane Howlett announced the changes to the $20m Border Closure Critical Support Grant Program on Tuesday.

The government has reduced the annual turnover figure to apply for the grants from $50,000 to $25,000.

Ms Howlett said more than 620 applications had been received and 470 businesses had been approved to share more than $2m since the program opened a fortnight ago.