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Twenty-one South-East Queensland councils will receive grants of up to $250,000 per council to help small businesses with the 2022 flooding events.
The $2.5 million Locally Led Economic Recovery Program is aimed at assisting regions impacted by severe weather and flood events between 22 February and 5 April 2022. Eligible councils are permitted to use the funds to promote local small businesses, attract tourists, and encourage locals to be tourists in their own region while shopping locally.
The assistance offers grants of up to $250,000 per council through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The 21 councils being provided assistance are Brisbane, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redlands, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, and Western Downs.
The recovery program is part of a $14.5 million Small Business Recovery and Resilience Package funded through DRFA.
Applications for the grants close on Thursday, 27 April 2023 and grants must be spent by councils by 30 June 2024.
Minister for Employment and Small Business, Di Farmer, said small businesses are “the backbone of our communities” and the Palaszczuk government’s mission has “always been to help those affected to fully recover and continue to prosper”.
“We consulted with the councils late last year and they indicated they’d like to use these funds to continue existing projects and undertake new campaigns including shop local gift card schemes, business improvement programs, events, and outdoor trade activation,” Ms Farmer said.
“We are committed to working in partnership with local councils to support small businesses with their long-term recovery from last year’s floods.”
Monsoon support
The federal and state government extended disaster funding for northern Queensland after the region experienced monsoonal rain and flooding earlier this year.
Financial, housing, and emotional support were initially available to residents across the Burke LGA who were impacted by the heavy rainfall and flooding.
The relief was extended to include Personal Hardship Assistance for residents of Urandangi in Boulia Shire Council and loans for primary producers and small businesses in the local government areas of Burke, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, Mornington, and Mount Isa.
Personal Hardship Assistance provided $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five to cover the costs of essential items such as medicine, food, and clothing.
Meanwhile, primary producers and small businesses could apply for loans of up to $250,000 to repair or replace damaged buildings, plant, equipment, or livestock and up to $100,000 for working capital to continue doing business.
[RELATED: Qld extends disaster relief for flood victims]
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