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What is the Business and Community Sport Flood Recovery Grants?
The Business and Community Sport Flood Recovery Grants is an initiative to help small businesses, not-for-profit and community sport organisations recover from the Victorian floods.
Background
The Business and Community Sport Flood Recovery Grants support small businesses, not-for-profit and community sport and active recreation organisations that have suffered direct loss or damage from the Victorian floods.
The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements in relation to the Victorian Floods which commenced in October 2022 (AGRN 1037) (the “2022 Victorian Floods”).
Objective
This grant opportunity aims to support clean-up, relief and recovery costs for small businesses, not-for-profit and community sport organisations that have suffered direct loss or damage as a direct result of the Victorian Floods.
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Funding
The grant has a two-tiered evidentiary structure:
Tier 1
Up to $25,000 is available with evidence of direct damage and an outline of expected recovery costs. To make a claim under Tier 1 you can provide evidence of either estimated or actual costs. You must first apply for Tier 1 before progressing to Tier 2.
Tier 2
Tier 2 encompasses subsequent grant payments totalling over $25,000, up to $50,000, which can be reimbursed with full evidence of payment for recovery costs (tax invoices and official receipts). This evidence of payment must also include any amounts initially claimed under Tier 1, including the initial $5000 grant.
Eligible Projects
The grant can be used for:
- engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of damage to a property, premises or equipment
- hiring and leasing equipment, or purchasing materials to clean a property, premises or equipment (purchasing equipment may be considered eligible on a case-by-case basis if demonstrated to be more cost effective)
- paying additional wages to an existing employee, or employing a person to clean a property, premises or equipment if the cost would only be incurred due to the floods; or if you normally employ someone to clean the property, premises or equipment and the cost to clean is more than usual due to flood damage.
- removing and disposing of debris, damaged goods and material
- removing and disposing of spoiled goods and stock due to power outage
- essential repairs to premises and internal fittings (e.g. floor covering, electrical rewiring, shelving), if the repair is essential for resuming operation of the applicant. If you are not the owner of the facility, asset or premises, you will need written consent from the owner before undertaking any repairs
- if the repair or replacement is for home-based small businesses and not-for-profit organisations, you can only claim the costs for damage to the premises that are directly attributable to the business, not other household damage
- purchasing, hiring or leasing equipment or materials essential for you to immediately resume operation, with the replacement cost up to an equivalent value of the damaged property, assets, stock or equipment
- replacing lost or damaged stock if the replacement is essential for immediately resuming operations
- leasing temporary premises in the same region or community for the purpose of resuming operations.
Not-for-profit community sport and active recreation organisations can also use grant funding to cover expenses related to the repair or replacement of:
- play equipment
- injury prevention and first aid equipment
- non-participation and maintenance equipment
- canteen or clubroom items
Eligible Applicants
The applicant must be either:
- a business or not-for-profit that has been successful under the Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program and continues to meet the eligibility criteria for that program; or
- a community sport or active recreation organisation that has been successful under the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program and continues to meet the eligibility criteria for that program.
Applicants must:
- be located within a local government area deemed eligible for assistance under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement (‘defined disaster area’)
- have suffered direct damage to premises and/or tools of trade (e.g. equipment, plant)
- be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed
- intend to re-establish the business or organisation in the same area as the defined disaster area (local government area)
- provide satisfactory evidence of the loss or damage
- have been engaged in carrying on their business/functions when affected by the floods
- continue to meet the eligibility criteria for either the Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program or the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program.
Need Assistance?
Call 1300 658 508
Timing
Applications close 1 May 2023.
