Disaster recovery funding now open for eligible small businesses

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority have made disaster recovery funding available to eligible small businesses to help them get back up and running after the recent flood events. The following information has been provided to us by the QRIDA to pass on to our clients to help with recovery efforts.

Small businesses in the eligible defined areas listed below who were directly impacted by the recent South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding, 22 February – 7 March 2022 may now apply for Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants of up to $50,000.

Applications close 5 September 2022.

The maximum total grant amount is $50,000 and is available through two separate applications, where eligibility criteria applies: 

• An initial amount of up to $15,000 is available to support an initial claim with evidence of the direct damage including: 
  • photographs
  • quotes/estimates
  • tax invoices 
  • official receipts.
• A subsequent amount of up to $35,000 is available to support subsequent applications for which full evidence of payment is required. 

Eligible clean-up, reinstatement activities and emergency measures include: 

• Equipment and materials to undertake clean-up
• Additional labour costs (above and beyond normal wage expenditure i.e. day-to-day staffing)
• Disposing of damaged goods and stock, including associated costs
• Repairs to buildings (other than housing)
• Purchase or hire/ lease costs for equipment essential to the immediate resumption of the business
• Payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections
• Essential repairs to premises and internal fittings that is not covered by insurance
• Replacement of lost or damaged stock if the replacement is essential for immediately resuming operations
• Leasing temporary premises for the purpose of resuming operation.

An applicant is not eligible for assistance under the scheme: 

1. for repairs to a building the applicant lets to a person for residential or commercial purposes, unless the applicant lets the property in the course of operating a business (superannuation funds and personal investment vehicles are not regarded as businesses); or
2. if the small business is entitled to receive an amount under a policy of insurance for the relevant costs claimed; or
3. for loss of income as a result of the eligible disaster. 

Defined disaster areas: to be eligible for assistance your business must be located in one of the following areas: 

• Brisbane City Council
• Fraser Coast Regional Council
• Gladstone Regional Council
• Gold Coast City Council
• Goondiwindi Regional Council
• Gympie Regional Council
• Ipswich City Council
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Logan City Council
• Moreton Bay Regional Council
• Noosa Shire Council
• North Burnett Regional Council
• Redland City Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• South Burnett Regional Council
• Southern Downs Regional Council
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council
• Toowoomba Regional Council

How to apply

Visit the QRIDA website to read the full guidelines, eligibility criteria and what documents you need to have ready to apply. Applications close 5 September 2022.

Ensure you’re using the latest Google Chrome browser on a desktop or laptop when submitting your application.

To start your online application through the QRIDA portal click the ‘Apply online’ button below. 

If you have already applied for assistance from QRIDA please have your QRIDA Client ID Number ready to apply. You can find it on any formal correspondence you have received from QRIDA including emails relating to an outcome of a decision.

Concessional Loans
Disaster Assistance & Essential Working Capital

Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $250,000 to assist you to re-establish the normal operations of your small business enterprise.

Disaster Assistance Loans (Essential Working Capital) of up to $100,000 are concessional loans  provided to assist you with essential working capital for expenses for your small business enterprise.

For more information including eligibility criteria, closing date and defined disaster areas for these loans visit qrida.qld.gov.au.

Other available financial assistance

We understand this is a difficult time. Should you not meet the eligible criteria for the Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants we encourage you to please visit the Queensland and Australian Government websites to learn more about the wide range of other financial assistance that may be available for your business including:

Small Business Disaster Hub
Resources to help businesses respond and recover following a natural disaster are available from the Small Business Disaster Hub website. Useful topics include:

Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available for eligible flood affected communities from both the Queensland and Australian Governments.

Personal Hardship Financial Assistance is available for Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Somerset, and Sunshine Coast and includes:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants available to support people directly impacted by a disaster who are unable to meet their immediate essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation. Eligible applicants may receive $180 per person up to $900 for a family of five or more. For more information, contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies.
• Essential Household Contents Grants of up to $1765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families. These grants are for those who are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance. If eligible you may receive financial assistance towards replacing or repairing essential household contents, such as beds, linen and white goods, that have been lost or damaged in a disaster.

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment provides a lump sum payment for eligible people adversely affected by the South East Queensland floods.

Disaster Recovery Allowance (Australian Government) is a short-term payment to help people who have lost income as a direct result of the floods in South East Queensland.

If you have any questions on this or would like some help, please reach out to us. We encourage everyone to ‘Ask Us First’.