Ryde businesses receive $4.8M worth of COVID-19 grants

More than 480 Ryde businesses have received small business grants as support during COVID-19 totalling $4.8 million – as the NSW government extends the deadline for applications.

The Eastwood Club. Picture: Google

More than 480 Ryde businesses have received COVID-19 small business grants adding up to a total of $4.8 million.

The 487 businesses in Ryde LGA have received $10,000 small business grants from the state government, according to data from the Department of Customer Service.

The City of Sydney LGA has had the most COVID-19 small business grants approved with 3,176 grants to date worth a staggering $31.4 million.

It was followed by the Northern Beaches with 1,195 approved applications amounting to $11.7 million worth of grants, and Canterbury-Bankstown with 1,025 applications valued at $10.1 million.

Virtual happy hour drinks at The Eastwood Club were held on Fridays during the lockdown. Picture: Supplied

Manager of The Eastwood Club Steven Colquhoun said the grant has provided much-needed relief for his club.

He said the $10,000 has gone towards rent and staff training for his eight employees.

“We were very happy because that money was able to help us with the cash flow of having to pay for rent,” he told The Northern District Times.

“It gave me a chance to arrange for staff training to bring trainers in.”

He said part of the grant has been used to upskill his staff, giving them training sessions from personal development and hospitality to COVID-19 training.

The Eastwood Club has since phased back within the last two weeks with social distancing measures in place.

After two months of closed doors, he said the best part about reopening was being a place for locals to catch up for the first time.

“The best part is being able to service our community. They can come in and have a draught beer and catch up with friends they haven’t seen when they’ve been isolated.”

“Just to bring back that environment and social aspect of what a club means to people.”

The Eastwood Club has used part of their small business grant on staff training. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Colquhoun said he first applied for the grant in the first week of April and was approved within the hour before the money hit his account about a week later. “It was a very quick and easy process,” he said.

Minister for Customer Service and Ryde liberal MP Victor Dominello said, “Small businesses are the backbone of the community and these grants help with the bills and expenses during this difficult time.”

“We want to help businesses through the recovery and reopen their doors safely.”

The Eastwood Club is one of the thousands of small businesses who have been approved for grants of up to $10,000 as part of the NSW government’s $750 million Small Business Support Fund.

The deadline for the NSW government small business grants has now been extended to 11.59pm on June 30.

“I encourage any eligible local business to apply for a grant. It’s simple and easy and can be done quickly online,” Mr Dominello said.

For more information on eligibility or to submit an application visit www.service.nsw.gov.au