Sunshine Coast business support thanks to new government Covid grants

Many businesses are struggling to bounce back after the latest lockdown, including Buderim Ginger, but the chief executive hopes a new grant could help turn trends around soon.

Sunshine Coast tourism continues to struggle as borders remain closed but new government assistance packages aim to give operators a boost.

The latest Queensland COVID-19 business support grants round will see small to medium businesses be able to apply from Monday, August 16, for financial support.

The grants, funded by the federal and state governments, have been increased from $260 million to $600 million and will be eligible for businesses which suffered a decline in turnover of more than 30 per cent during the latest lockdown earlier in August.

Buderim Ginger chief executive Andrew Bond said his company, which operates the Ginger Factory in Yandina, would apply for the grants after it had to temporarily reduce its staff by more than half during the latest lockdown.

Mr Bond said while it was great to see locals supporting the business, ongoing border closures and snap lockdowns across the country continued to hurt the business financially.

“We’re lucky we have things under control so far in Queensland but certainly the Ginger Factory has a strong visitation from down south,” he said.

“The local support is absolutely fantastic but our business is traditionally more than 50 per cent interstate and international visitors.

“We’ve lost a lot of revenue, we still had all the ongoing maintenance costs (while closed during lockdown) and the cost to reopen is almost the cost to being shut.”

While Mr Bond welcomed the increase in grant money available, he said it was not as supportive as the JobKeeper package which helped keep many of his staff earning money.

“We’ll be having a look at (the new grant) and what that means for the business,” he said.

“Every little bit does help but it’s relatively small and it’s not as supportive as JobKeeper.”

Treasurer Cameron Dick encourages businesses to apply for the latest Covid-19 support packages. Picture: Brad Fleet

As part of the package additional support for businesses which have had a decline in turnover of more than 30 per cent will include:

• A $1000 one-off grant to non-employing sole traders across Queensland that have had a decline in turnover of more than 30 per cent.
• Payroll-based support for all businesses across Queensland, that have had a decline in turnover of more than 30 per cent.
• A $5000 one-off, top-up grant to small business with payroll of less than $1.3 million
• A $10,000 one-off, top-up grant to medium sized business with payroll between $1.3 million and $10 million
• A $25,000 one-off, top-up grant to large sized tourism and hospitality focused businesses only with payroll of greater than $10 million.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said the agreement would boost support, not just for businesses that have been affected by recent lockdowns, but by those that continue to suffer because of lockdowns in other jurisdictions.

Full details about the program can be accessed at business.qld.gov.au/supportgrants.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast business support thanks to new government Covid grants