There are Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants and Disaster Assistance Loans which are now available to assist small businesses, primary producers and non-profits who were impacted by the South East Queensland rainfall and flooding events between 22 February – 7 March.

What is available?

• Grants of up to $50,000 to eligible applicants available for directly impacted businesses. Up to $15,000 is available to support an initial claim, with up to $35,000 available to support subsequent claims. This grant can be used for clean-up activities, repairs including damage to equipment, flooring, and walls, and to replace lost stock.
• Disaster Assistance Loans offer up to $250,000 for businesses who were directly impacted by the SEQ rainfall and flooding events. This loan can be used to repair or replace damaged plant, equipment, or buildings, replace stock or meet carry on costs including rents or rates.
• Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) offer up to $100,000 for businesses who have been indirectly impacted by the SEQ rainfall and flooding events. This loan can be used to pay staff, creditors, rent or rates and purchase goods that are essential for your business such as fuel.

Please note, applications will be assessed in order of receipt. Grant applications close on 5 September 2022, and loan applications close on 31 December 2023.

How to apply
Apply online via the Queensland Rural and Industry here, or you can download a copy of the application and complete offline.

Eligibility criteria
Grants are available for directly impacted small business, primary producers and non-profits however we have focused this information for small business owners, the eligibility criteria is:

• be a small business owner (sole trader, partnership, trust or Pty Ltd)
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the SEQ Rainfall and Flood event which took place between 22 February – 7 March 2022.
• own a small business located in the defined disaster area that has suffered direct damage as a result of the SEQ Rainfall and Flood event
• have been operating your businesses as per normal when the SEQ Rainfall and Flood event occurred
• be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in your application
• intend to re-establish your small business in the defined disaster area (one of the below 19 local government areas) for the eligible disaster.

Small business applicants outside of the defined disaster area might be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant if both of the following apply:

• the small business operated at least sometimes on a regular basis in the defined disaster area; and
• plant or equipment of the small business situated in the defined disaster area has been damaged as a result of the eligible disaster.

The defined disaster area is defined as areas within these local government areas:

• Brisbane City Council
• Fraser Coast Regional Council
• Gladstone Regional Council
• Gold Coast City Council
• Goondiwindi Regional Council
• Gympie Regional Council
• Ipswich City Council
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Logan City Council
• Moreton Bay Regional Council
• Noosa Shire Council
• North Burnett Regional Council
• Redland City Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• South Burnett Regional Council
• Southern Downs Regional Council
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council
• Toowoomba Regional Council

Where can you go to get more information? 
Please note QRIDA is the agency responsible for administering these grants. For more information about the grants QRIDA has published helpful information, including dealing with insured property, FAQs and downloadable guidelines here. We recommend reading the guidelines, they are reasonably short and provide good, clear information.

If you have questions in relation to the above, or any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact our office on 1300 620 345.