Business News

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What's news? ... Coronavirus; $10,000 recovery grant; free business advice, clean-up opportunities; retraining; Innovation Hub, apprenticeship changes; Funding Finder, female startup funding, #LoveNSW.

Welcome to the first issue of Business News, the Bega Valley Shire Council’s fortnightly e-newsletter; covering the latest local, state and national business information.

We understand your time is precious – we will only include important and relevant information that benefits you and your business.

Bega Valley’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Where the national statistic says 97% of all businesses in Australia are small businesses, in rural and regional areas it is closer to 99%.

Our small businesses have had, and are still having, a tough time. The evacuation of our tourists at the peak of the bushfire emergency had a devastating flow-on effect impacting every business and industry within our Shire. And now, COVID-19.

Council is working across many fronts to get you, your business and your community back to, not just surviving but thriving. This newsletter is a vital link for us to share opportunities and information.

Keep in contact with us, share the newsletter, try to get involved in business events and your local Chamber or business association. Get in touch with Dan and Alison in the Economic Development team on (02) 6499 2222 or EconomicDevelopment@begavalley.nsw.gov.au.

Most importantly, keep taking care of yourself in this very stressful time. Looking out for yourself, your staff and your fellow business owners and operators is a good investment.

Cr Kristy McBain
Mayor, Bega Valley Shire Council

CORONAVIRUS - YOUR OBLIGATIONS

As an employer, you have business and isolation requirements around the coronavirus crisis that you should be aware of and act on.

You also need to understand what financial assistance is available and the eligibility and timing requirements around the new government support for Australian businesses.

In Australia, indoor gatherings of more than 100 people are banned, people should stay 1.5 metres away from each other and abandon all international travel.

The federal government's support includes

cash grants of up to $25,000 for small businesses
$750 one-off payments for potential consumers
a significant temporary extension to the instant asset write-off scheme
administrative relief for some tax obligations, including potential deferrals, on a case-by-case basis.

The NSW government's support includes:

$450m for waiver of payroll tax for businesses with payrolls of up to $10m for three months (the rest of 2019-20).
$56m to bring forward next round of payroll tax cuts by raising the threshold limit to $1m in 2020-21
$80m to waive a range of fees and charges for small businesses including bars, cafes, restaurants and tradies
$250m to employ additional cleaners of public infrastructure such as transport assets, schools and other public buildings
over $250m to bring forward maintenance on public assets including social housing and crown land fencing
$500m to bring forward capital works and maintenance.

More information on the coronavirus crisis is available on the following websites:
Bega Valley Shire Council
business.gov.au
Tourism Australia
NSW Events & Gatherings
Accommodation QAs
Food & Beverage QAs
Social Distancing

NEW $10,000 RECOVERY GRANT

Bega Valley small businesses affected by the bushfire crisis can now apply for the new $10,000 grant.

If your small business experienced a 40% drop in revenue over a three-month period, compared to the previous year, as a result of the bushfires, you are eligible for the grant, which can be spent on such things as salaries, wages, utilities, fuel and financial advice.

You can apply for the grant from the Service NSW website.

But before you do, you might want to read through a Quick Reference Guide produced by Longstocking Brewery's Peter Caldwell. He successfully applied for the grant and he wants other small businesses to do the same.

Remember, small businesses owners who have already received financial support may also be eligible.

BEGA VALLEY INNOVATION HUB

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Bega Valley Innovation Hub is moving to remote delivery using Zoom for all workshops.

In doing this, the Hub will ensure a high-quality, remotely-delivered learning experience, with good support in place for its facilitators and businesses.

The Hub is also reviewing options for online co-working. Details will be provide at each online session so registered businesses can join an online closed group for communication and support.

For further information and assistance, email adminj@bvih.com.ua

FREE BUSINESS ADVICE

A free advisory service is available to small businesses through NSW BusinessConnect.

Advice is offered about managing cash flow, planning the next steps, accessing financial support schemes and connecting to additional support. A trusted local business advisor can meet you at your premises or another location.

Register on the BusinessConnect website or call 1300 134 359 to book a session with a local advisor.

ACTION YOUR BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN

If you have a Business Continuity Plan, you've probably started putting it into action.

If you don’t have one, now is the time to create a plan that will help you prepare for and continue to operate after an incident or crisis.

The business.gov.au website explains what’s in a Business Continuity Plan and provides a link to a template that will help you to create one.

LOCAL CLEAN-UP OPPORTUNITIES

The NSW government's appointed bushfire clean-up coordinator, Laing O’Rourke Australia has been instructed to employ local contractors and regional small businesses in the delivery of the clean-up process.

If there are no local contractors and suppliers with the capabilities required for a job, only then is the company able to engage external contractors and services.

Local contractors must register an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered for clean-up work by emailing: constructionselection@finance.nsw.gov.au

The closing date for EOIs is currently 30 April 2020.

FIND BUSINESS GRANTS THROUGH FUNDING FINDER

Funding Finder is a portal providing free access to a comprehensive database of grant and funding opportunities.

Once you register, you will receive emailed alerts for new or updated grants, you can save your favourites and access tips to help you apply for grants.

There is also access to a quick list of grants for bushfire, drought and disaster funding.

CHANGES TO APPRENTICESHIPS

Apprentices in bushfire affected areas whose employers are unable to keep them on will still be able to access the training component of their apprenticeships for up to 12 months for free.

Training Services NSW will work with apprentices in bushfire affected areas to support them with ongoing training and help connect them to potential employers.

This initiative is uncapped and will apply to as many apprentices as needed.

For more information, visit your local Training Services NSW office or
call 13 28 11.

FREE TRAINING TO REBUILD COMMUNITIES

Training Services NSW is supporting industries and communities needing more skilled workers to rebuild communities and support displaced workers or businesses severely impacted by the bushfires through funding various training courses.

A wide range of training is available, including chain sawing, job seeking skills, plan skills development, safe work practices, tree felling and White card – Construction.

FUNDING FOR FEMALE FOUNDED STARTUPS

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are being sought for Round One of the Boosting Female Founders program, which aims to help female founders access early stage capital to grow their startups in national and international markets.

The program will provide grants between $25,000 and $400,000 on a co-contribution basis to successful applicants. It will run over three years from 2020–21 to 2022–23, with $6 million available for Round One. Eligible EOIs will be accepted until 5pm AEST on 14 April 2020.

LIST YOUR TOURISM BUSINESS ON #LoveNSW

Destination NSW is running the #LoveNSW campaign; encouraging people to have #RecoveryWeekends and #HolidayHereThisYear. Get Connected with the rest of Australia and list your small business on #LoveNSW campaign.

Once you have registered, you will gain instant access to an online platform where you can commence creating your very first FREE listing.

DON'T RISK BEING LOCKED OUT - After 27 March you’ll no longer be able to use #AUSkey to log in to the ATO’s Business Portal & other government online services. Make the move to myGovID today. Find out more at ato.gov.au/mygovid

SUPER GUARANTEE AMNESTY - If you haven't paid the right amount of super guarantee (SG) to your workers, the SG amnesty is the time to come forward. This means you can fix past unpaid SG without incurring charges or penalties. The SG amnesty runs until 6 September 2020. Find out more HERE.

UPDATE ON LOCAL EVENTS

Tradies Race Day - not open to public
Four Winds Easter Festival - cancelled
Cobargo Unites benefit concert - cancelled
Narooma Oyster Festival - postponed 1 May 2021
Toni Childs Retrospective - cancelled

BUSINESS NEWS - get the latest Bega Valley and Sapphire Coast business news and information direct to your inbox.

Subscribe now!

Feedback and topic suggestions are most welcome, email us at:

EconomicDevelopment@begavalley.nsw.gov.au

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