Small business and not-for-profits in Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay and Richmond are eligible to apply for the grants increased from $25,000 to now up to $50,000. QRIDA Disaster Recovery Manager Craig Turner said the grants could help with hiring or leasing equipment or materials, removing debris, damaged goods and material, repairing buildings or replacing lost or damaged stock.   

Mr Turner said the application process had been streamlined to help small business owners and not-for-profit organisations recover as quickly as possible.

“For many impacted small business owners, they have lost their major source of income so it’s important they get all the help they can to be up and running,” Mr Turner said.

“Many rural and regional communities also depend on these small business and not-for-profit organisations so the quicker they can back to business, the better.”

Mr Turner said QRIDA staff were still on the ground across the affected areas including the Small Business Recovery Hub in Townsville and other locations to answer questions and help with applications.

“Affected small business owners and not-for-profit organisations should get in touch with QRIDA to find out if they are eligible and how a grant or loan could help them get up and running again,” he said.

Initial grants up to $10,000 are available to help with immediate cleaning and reinstatement costs by simply providing evidence such as photographs of damage, plus quotes or estimates for repairs, even if insurance claims are yet to be finalised.

Subsequent grants above the initial $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000 are available to help with additional cleaning and reinstatement costs which must be supported with evidence of damage such as invoices, proof of payment and insurances finalised.

Concessional loans are available including Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $250,000 to help in to re-establishing the normal operations of small businesses, and Essential Working Capital Loans of up to $100,000 to help with expenses such as paying salaries or wages, paying creditors, paying rent or rates and buying goods, including for example, fuel essential to carry-on the small business.

For not-for-profit organisations, Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $100,000 are available to help in re-establishing the normal operations of the organisation while Essential Working Capital Loans of up to $100,000 are available to help with expenses such as paying salaries or wages, paying creditors, paying rent or rates and buying goods, including for example, fuel essential to carry-on the non-for-profit activities.