Border zone support package announced

The Chamber joined with a number of very active locals to lobby for a more tailored and targeted response to the impact of the NSW/QLD border closure and the government listened.

Chamber President, Hilary Jacobs said "Many businesses weren’t able to qualify for the lockdown support from the QLD State government, so it’s fantastic that this has been recognised and acted upon".

"What started as a campaign to raise awareness that Coolangatta is Essential has now resulted in a raft of extra support tailored for the Business community at the border to help them in a number of ways".

The package includes an extension of the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Support grants to include the border closure period, funds towards the 'Essentially Coolangatta' marketing campaign, up to $1M towards border businesses taking part in the Play Money Campaign due to launch this Thursday and $700,000 towards mental health support for business owners and their families in the border zone.

The Chamber is very proud to have built the relationships with the Small Business Commissioner and the Minister for Employment, Small Business and Training, during our many meetings with CCIQ over the last year, to now ensure our message was heard and acted upon.

Further details of the package are below!

Any business that wants to access the grants should follow this link - https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/covid-19-recovery/border-business-support

Extension of 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants

Businesses that have a trading location in the above border business zone may be eligible to apply for a COVID-19 Business Support Grant due to being affected by the border closure.

Your business must have experienced a reduction in turnover of at least 30% for a 7-day period anywhere from 14 August 2021 until border restrictions from within hotspots adjacent to the Queensland-New South Wales border are lifted.

All other eligibility criteria must still be met.

If your business has already received a COVID-19 Business Support Grant (based on impacts from the recent South East Queensland and Cairns and Yarrabah lockdowns), you are not eligible to apply again.

Learn more about the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants.

Coolangatta small business support hub

Visit the hub for support and information for businesses operating on the Queensland–New South Wales border.

Staff from the Queensland Government are also visiting businesses in the area in an outreach program to provide information and support.

The hub is at the Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre, Garrick St, Coolangatta, and is open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.

Other COVID-19 border business zone support

Funding will also be provided for:

mental health support for affected business owners and their families
a $1 million boost to the Play Money campaign run by the City of Gold Coast Council and Destination Gold Coast, to help Gold Coast residents support local businesses
financial support for marketing campaigns such as 'Essentially Cooly'.

COVID-19 Border Business Zone Hardship Grants

Your business may become eligible for a one-off grant of $5,000 for an employing business and $1,000 for a non-employing sole trader.

This grant will become available if the current border closure extends for 2 months or longer (until or longer than 14 October 2021).

You must have a trading location in the border business zone and have applied for and received the COVID-19 Business Support Grant to be eligible for the hardship grant. You will then be asked to register your interest for this grant in due course. You will not need to submit a new application for this grant.

Grants may be available in mid-October 2021.