WA Gov Grants Announced

The EIA welcomes the announcement of the grant scheme. The Chair and board have worked hard with the wider business community in advocating for this new assistance package.

The Western Australian Government has announced targeted grants to assist small businesses affected by the recent Perth and Peel lockdown.

The Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grants program will provide assistance of $2,000 to small businesses in the Perth and Peel region in industry sectors most severely impacted by the recent three day lockdown and subsequent restrictions.

The grants are intended to offset some of the direct costs of the lockdown and business closure, such as loss of perishable goods or cancellations.

Businesses will be invited to express their interest now to be notified when online applications open later this month.

Who is eligible?

The Small Business Lockdown Assistance Grants program will provide support to an estimated 15,000 small businesses to cover direct costs and lost bookings due to cancellations.

The program will assist a wide range of businesses impacted by the lockdown, including:

• Cafés and restaurants

• Catering services

• Pubs, taverns and bars nightclubs

• Accommodation and sightseeing

• Health and fitness centres and gyms

• Sport and physical recreation (instruction)

• Hairdressing and beauty services

• Florists

• Cinemas

• Bakeries

• Clubs (hospitality)

• Specialised food retail

• Food wholesalers

• Creative industries and performing arts venues

• Event equipment hire

Eligible businesses must have an Australia-wide payroll of less than $4 million and be registered for GST, unless they have an ATO exemption. They should also be able to demonstrate losses incurred for perishable goods, cancellations or other unforeseen costs as a result of the ANZAC Day long weekend lockdown and subsequent restrictions.

Visit smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/coronavirus for more information on how to manage disruption to your business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.