Small Business Survival Fund – Northern Territory

Information source businessrecovery.nt.gov.au

For queries about the guidelines, deadlines, or questions in the form, please contact the NT Government’s Business Recovery Team on 1800 193 111 during business hours or email survivalfund@nt.gov.au and quote your submission number.

Click here (https://businessrecovery.nt.gov.au/terms-and-conditions) to view the program terms and conditions.

If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Small Business Survival Fund

On this page

  • Who can apply
  • How to apply
  • How applications are assessed
  • Payments
  • Affected business sectors
  • Contact

The Northern Territory’s Jobs Rescue and Recovery plan’s Small Business Survival Fund is a $50 million initiative to help Territory small businesses survive the physical distancing requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The fund has three goals:

  1. Help local businesses survive through the partial or full shut-down period. For example, support in meeting unavoidable fixed costs.
  2. Help local businesses adjust and adapt to take advantage of the new consumer environment. For example, expanding online services, takeaway and delivery.
  3. Prepare local businesses to take advantage of the rebounding economy when the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is over. For example, upgrading premises or upskilling staff.

The fund will be administered by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation. It is targeted at businesses that have a significant reduction in trade due to the shutdown and physical distancing provisions.

The fund was developed by an industry-led advisory board, chaired by respected Territory business leader Dick Guit.

The Small Business Survival Fund is available to eligible businesses in addition to other support, including the Jobs Rescue and Recovery Package and the Tourism Resilience Package.

 

Who can apply

This initiative is available to Northern Territory (NT) businesses that meet the following criteria:

  • a legal entity and holder of a valid Australian business number (ABN) as at 23 March 2020, and
  • a Territory enterprise, and
  • usually operates in one of the industry sectors affected by the social gathering restrictions announced on 22 March 2020 and 24 March 2020, and / or
  • has been significantly impacted by the physical distancing requirements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – for example, staffing, turnover.

How to apply

To apply for the fund, follow these steps:

Step 1. You must read, understand and agree to the fund’s terms and conditions before you apply.

Step 2. Apply online on the Smartygrants website.

How applications are assessed

The following principles and criteria will be used to assess applications to the fund:

  • the affected business must be operating in a defined industry sector listed below
  • the affected business must demonstrate significant impact, in particular in relation to turnover, staffing levels and fixed and operational costs
  • applicants must be able to provide appropriate evidence to support their application to the fund
  • eligible recipients must comply with the NT Government’s buy local policy requirements
  • businesses that meet the fund’s objective (section 1.1 of the terms and conditions), intent and principles will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Payments

Payments will include an initial lump sum to offset current costs and provide time to adjust.

Immediate survival payment

The immediate survival payment provides an initial lump sum directed to businesses to help offset immediate cost pressures and provide time to plan.

It’s a four-tier payment based on the size of the impacted workforce.

Eligible businesses will have to provide a certified financial / payroll statement identifying the number of employees pre-shutdown.

The eligibility criteria includes:

  • a demonstrated reduction in turnover
  • impact of fixed costs
  • an employment reduction.

Immediate survival payment amount

The immediate survival payment amounts include:

  • $2,000 for sole traders
  • $5,000 for businesses with 2 to 4 employees (FTEs)
  • $20,000 for businesses with 5 to 19 employees (FTEs)
  • $50,000 for businesses with more than 20 employees (FTEs).

Rapid adaption payment

The rapid adaption payment provides:

  • up to $2,000 for businesses with one employee (FTE) and
  • up to $5,000 for other eligible businesses to offset costs incurred in adapting their current business model to suit restrictions.

This payment is application-based and paid direct to the business.

It will be paid on the provision of an appropriate invoice.

Expenditure must occur after the announcement and applications close on 1 May 2020.

After this time, businesses will have full access to the Business Improvement and Immediate Work grants under the Jobs Rescue and Recovery package.

Affected business sectors

The following list includes those businesses specifically identified in the Australian Government physical distance restrictions and how they are proposed to be treated under this program.

Food, drink and retail

This includes:

  • restaurants and cafes
  • pubs, registered and licensed clubs (excluding bottle shops), hotels (excluding accommodation)
  • auction houses
  • retail (other).

Beauty and personal care services

This includes:

  • beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons and tattoo parlours
  • spas and massage parlours.

Entertainment venues

This includes:

  • cinemas, nightclubs and entertainment venues
  • casinos, gaming or gambling venues
  • strip clubs, brothels and sex on premises venues
  • concert venues, theatres, arenas, auditoriums and stadiums
  • amusement parks and arcades
  • play centres (indoor and outdoor).

Leisure and recreation

This includes:

  • community and recreation centres (private enterprise only)
  • gyms, indoor sporting venues, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre and spin facilities, saunas, bathhouses and wellness centres
  • bootcamps, personal training operating outside and inside
  • galleries, museums, national institutions and historic sites (private enterprise only)
  • libraries, community centres and youth centres (private enterprise only)
  • tourism (other).

If your business is not listed

If your business is not listed, email survivalfund@nt.gov.au and someone will contact you to discuss your specific case within two business days.

Contact

For more information, contact the Business Recovery team.

 

 

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