Small Business Disaster Recovery Grants

This program aims to provide severely impacted small businesses with access to high-level expertise and advice to rebuild business confidence and increase resilience for the future. It support small businesses impacted by the North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough (Monsoon Trough) disaster event that occurred from 25 January to 14 February 2019.

The objectives of the program are to:
- Provide access to expertise and advice to rebuild business confidence and increase resilience for the future.
- Promote new skills to reduce potential labour rationalisation during current and future recovery efforts.
- Provide funding to support building, plant and equipment repairs as a flood-proofing measure.
- Enhance business sustainability to minimise future effects of natural disasters.

The categories of DRFA assistance available are:
- Received Category C assistance (directly inundated; approved for Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant)
- Not eligible Category C assistance (indirectly impacted)
- Eligible to receive Category B assistance; Not eligible Category C (directly inundated, approved for Disaster Assistance Small Business Loan)
- Not eligible Category B or C assistance (indirectly impacted)

Grants of up to $10,000 (excluding GST) are available for:
- Resilience funding
- Building, plant and equipment repair funding

A total funding pool of $3 million is available over two years.

Eligible applicants include include small businesses that must:
- Severely impacted by the Monsoon Trough.
- Have fewer than 20 employees on 1 January 2019.
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for GST.
- Not have an owner or director who is an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the list of eligible LGAs.

Eligible activities include:
- Business plan development
- Retraining
- Business mentoring
- Financial counselling
- Exploring options for business sustainability

Please refer to the Guidelines for the list of ineligible activities.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the list of assessment criteria for each type of DRFA assistance.