Small Business Support Package - 2023 Tropical Cyclone Jasper

About

The $8.88 million Small Business Support Package includes one-on-one case management focused on mental health and financial security, partnerships with councils and chambers of commerce to address local support needs, and grants for small businesses that have lost income due to prolonged isolation, following the Tropical Cyclone Jasper, associated rainfall and flooding, 13 – 28 December 2023 event. 

The Small Business Support Package includes:

Small Business Support Network - $4.48 million 

Dedicated to disaster-affected small business owners, including tourism and rural businesses, providing free, independent, one-on-one case management with a strong focus on mental health support and financial security to recover from disaster and build more resilient enterprises.

Business Resilience Partnership Program - $0.55 million

New program that addresses local support needs, not met through other programs or elements of the Proposed Category D submission, delivered in partnership with councils and chambers.

Small Business Exceptional Assistance Grant - $3.85 million

Grants up to $20,00 will be available to provide financial assistance to small businesses located in impacted council areas, or operating within impacted council areas, who have lost income due to protracted isolation due to road access, power, and other services.

Eligibility

The assistance measures will be made available in the following impacted council areas:

• Tropical Cyclone Jasper:
  • Cairns Regional Council
  • Cassowary Coast Regional Council
  • Cook Shire Council
  • Douglas Shire Council
  • Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Mareeba Shire Council
  • Tablelands Regional Council
  • Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council

Funding acknowledgement

The package is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments to support Queensland communities in their recovery from the Tropical Cyclone Jasper, associated rainfall and flooding, 13 - 28 December 2023 event.

Administering agency

Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA)

Delivery agency

Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT)

Media statement