Businesses grab grants after web forum

THE Department of Employment, Small Business and Training has revealed a significant upsurge in grant applications from the Hinchinbrook Shire as local businesses take a proactive approach toward disaster recovery.

Local applications for the $10,000 Small Business Disaster Recovery Grants have surged following a Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism webinar in June that featured Ben Verning from the Townsville Small Business Recovery Centre and Tish Andrews from DESBT.

Chamber president Rachael Coco said the spike in grant applications was an excellent outcome that indicated Hinchinbrook businesses were prioritising innovation, recovery and resilience.

She commended business owners for “taking advantage of the support available to them”.

“When chamber saw how quickly funds under round one of the adaptation grant program and QRIDA loans were exhausted, we thought it was important to focus on some of the other under-utilised grants and support mechanisms that are available,” Ms Coco said.

“The Small Business Disaster Recovery Grant was actually released in 2019 to assist businesses who were impacted by the monsoon event, but chamber realised that any business being affected by

COVID-19 was most likely impacted by the monsoon so we needed to remind the business community that this assistance was still available.”

She said sharing information had formed an important part of chamber’s role in the community, especially in the face of the pandemic.

“COVID-19 forced us to leverage technology to get our message out there and we’re really pleased to learn that our webinars have been effective.”

Chamber recently organised a Small Business COVID-19 Adaptation Grant workshop, delivered by small business financial counsellor Russell Lowry, where attendees also learned more about the disaster recovery grants.

The Small Business Disaster Recovery grants are open until June 2021 – unless funds are expended beforehand.

“There’s definitely still time to lodge an application under either program so don’t hesitate to reach out,” Ms Coco said.