As COVID-19 spills into yet another calendar year, the New South Wales Government has announced additional financial support for businesses affected by the Omicron wave and extended some of its existing support measures.

New 2022 Small Business Support Program

The new program announced by Premier Perrottet on 30 January is for the month of February 2022 only.

It is for eligible businesses that:

• Had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million for the year ended 30 June 2021; and
• Experienced a decline in turnover of 40% or more due to Public Health Orders or the impacts of the Omicron COVID-19 strain during the month of January 2022, compared to January 2021 or January 2020; and
• Experienced a decline in turnover of 40% or more due to the impacts of the Omicron COVID-19 strain from 1–14 February 2022, compared to the same fortnight in February in the comparison year used for the above criterion; and
• Maintain their employee headcount from the date of announcement of the scheme.

Eligible businesses will receive one lump sum payment as follows:

• Employing businesses: 20% of weekly payroll for the month of February, with a minimum payment of $750 per week and a maximum payment of $5,000 per week.
• Non-employing businesses: A payment of $2,000 (being $500 per week)

Businesses will be able to apply through Service NSW from mid-February and should receive payment within 5 – 15 days of applying.

Expansion of Small business fees and charges rebate

This existing rebate is intended to help businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 by reducing the cost of running a business.

Eligible small businesses can use the rebate to offset the costs of eligible NSW and local government fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021 to 30 June 2022.

The rebate was previously $2,000 and will increase to $3,000 from late March 2022.

The rebate has also been expanded to allow eligible employing small businesses to use the rebate against the cost of rapid antigen tests (RATs).

Other fees and charges include, but are not limited to:

• food authority licences
• liquor licences
• tradesperson licences
• event fees
• outdoor seating fees
• council rates
• road user tolls for business use.

View a complete list of all eligible fees and charges.

Businesses can apply for the rebate through Service NSW.

Extension of Commercial Landlord Hardship grant

Grants of up to $3,000 per month (GST inclusive) per property are available for eligible landlords who have provided rental waivers to tenants financially impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in line with the Retail and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulations. Rent waived must be at least half of any rental reduction provided.

This grant has been extended until 13 March 2022.

Eligible landlords can apply for the grant through Service NSW.  There are staggered application periods opening for different rent relief periods.