NSW Bushfire Recovery Grants Program

This program aims to provide assistance to small businesses or non-profit organisations who suffered direct damage to their premises or equipment as a result of the NSW 2019-20 bushfire event (beginning in August 2019). It replaces the NSW Rural Assistance Authority – Natural Disaster Recovery Relief Grants (Small Business).

The program forms part of the Australian Government's $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund and is intended to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of small business or non-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available.

If the applicant already received a payment for the RAA grant, the amount received will be deducted from the maximum amount of $50,000 available under this new grant. That means that if they received $15,000 from the RAA, the maximum they can apply for in this application is $35,000.

Applicants who operate multiple small businesses under a single ABN, at separate bushfire-affected locations, can register for assistance for each eligible separate business up to a combined total of $50,000.

Eligible applicants include:
1. Small business owner who must:
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster.
- Own a small business located in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster that has suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster.
- Have been engaged in carrying on the small business when affected by the eligible disaster.
- Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application.
- Be intending to re-establish the small business in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster.

2. A non-profit organisation that must be:
- Registered with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) or an equivalent State regulatory body and have held that registration at the time of the eligible disaster.
- Located in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster and that has suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster.
- Primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application.
- Intending to re-establish the non-profit organisation in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster.

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for the complete eligibility requirements.

Eligible costs include (but are not limited to):
- Payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections.
- Equipment and materials required for cleaning up.
- The removal and disposal of damaged goods and materials.
- Repairing premises and internal fittings.
- Hiring equipment and/or replacing stock needed to resume operations.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Expenses that are covered under the small business or non-profit organisation's insurance policy.
- Loss of income as a result of the bushfires.
- A business that is a superannuation fund or personal investment vehicle.
- A business that is a public company or body corporate organisation.
- Farm enterprises.