BUSINESS REBOUND AND ADAPTATION GRANTS PROGRAM

Important note

The Business Rebound and Adaption Grant is now drawing to a close for new applications effective 30 November 2020.

If you are looking to make physical improvements to your business premises, undertake future skilling of your staff or purchase new technology and equipment to assist with accessing new markets please consider applying for the Small Business Pivot Grant which opens on 1 December 2020.

Overview of Business Rebound and Adaptation Grants

The Business Rebound and Adaptation Grants is a new program designed to help Northern Territory small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic build their capacity and adapt to the new economic environment.

The program is part of the Northern Territory Government’s job-saving stimulus measures designed to keep business open, cash flowing and Territorians working.

Grants of up to $10,000 on a co-contribution basis are available to small businesses to carry out works that will enhance customer experience and improve business performance.

This can include new technology, skilling of workers and structural works to business premises and major purchases and installations for the business.

Two vouchers can be issued per business as long as the total amount issued is not higher than the maximum grant allowed.

Eligible businesses must demonstrate a reduction in turnover of at least 30% due to COVID-19.

The Business Rebound and Adaptation Grants are available to eligible businesses in addition to the Territory Government’s other COVID-19 initiatives, including the Jobs Rescue and Recovery Plan and Tourism Resilience Plan.

Physical Distancing

You must practise physical distancing during the planning and delivery of your improvements, installations and service provision works.

If either you or the service provider are unwell, in self-isolation or self-quarantine, stay in touch by phone until it is safe to meet in person.

Your voucher and registration can be cancelled at any time if you fail to follow the safety guidelines. You may also be referred to the police.

For more information on staying safe, go to https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/.

Who can apply

This grant is available to businesses and they must be a Territory enterprise, which:

• is a legal entity and holds a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) as at 29 July 2020; and
• is a Territory Enterprise; and
• has 199 officers and employees or fewer (including a sole trader where the only employee is the proprietor of the business); and
• had a minimum turnover of $75,000.00 for the 2018/2019 financial year, and would have expected to have turnover equal to that amount for the 2019/2020 financial year but for the effect of COVID-19 on its business; and
• can demonstrate a reduction in turnover of at least 30% due to COVID-19 (for example, by qualification for JobKeeper, Business Hardship Register or by presenting financial evidence).

Who can’t apply

This grant is not available to:

• Individuals
• Not-for-profits and charitable organisations
• public and private schools.
• Public and private educational institutions
• Home based businesses (where the applicant’s residence is not located separately to its business)
• Government agencies and government owned bodies, statutory corporations and local government
• Businesses that received funding under the Small Business Survival Fund ‘Rebound Support Grants’ and the Business Improvement Grants

Read the full eligibility criteria in the grant terms and conditions at https://businessrecovery.nt.gov.au/terms-and-conditions.  

What you can use the grant for

You can use the grant to carry out renovations, improvements, repairs and maintenance services.

This only applies if the services permanently improve the structure, fittings or fixtures, or the general condition of the property.

The works must demonstrate value for money consistent with the eligible organisation or other purposes beneficial to the community.

Services in the nature of professional advice, technological design and the likes may be approved by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation.

Each business can apply once to the program and will be able to complete up to two jobs under the one application so long as the total amount is no higher than $10,000.

Examples of eligible works that can be purchased with grants under this program are:

• Access/ egress management for a Property
• Increase capacity of the business to service customers
• Technological improvements such as website design
• Redesign/ Refurbishment of premises
• Marketing (but not advertising ie. purchase of media space)
• Occupational Health and Safety/ Security
• Re-configuring layouts for physical distancing
• Cashless ‘No Touch’ Payment
• Partitioning
• Training programs for staff
• Advice on and fixtures installed in a Property in relation to hygiene practices; and
• Professional services (accounting, legal, business planning)
• Physical improvements to premises

Co-Contribution

The Territory Government will match costs on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to a maximum grant of $10,000.

Works that are excluded

Excluded works include:

• solar photovoltaic panels and solar photovoltaic panel installations and batteries; and
• works that are to be carried out by the Eligible Recipient on a ‘Do it Yourself’ basis; and
• security improvement works as funded under Biz Secure and Alcohol Secure programs (subject to the these programs’ eligibility criteria);
• purchase of advertising space in any form of media.

When works can start

Eligible works can start after an application has been approved by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation.

How to apply

Applications opened at 9am on Tuesday 1 September and will close at 5pm on 30 November 2020.

You must read, understand and agree to the program's terms and conditions to apply for a grant.

When you are ready to apply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Decide what type of job you want done in your business.

Step 2. Check the list of registered service providers taking part in the program.

Step 3. Contact a service provider from the list for a quote. There is no minimum number of quotes.

Step 4. After selecting a preferred quote, apply online to receive a unique voucher.

Step 5. Once the work is completed, you must pay the service provider for the work using the voucher as part payment. You must give your voucher to the service provider so they can be paid by the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation.

For businesses doing the works

Businesses and suppliers registered under the Jobs Rescue and Recovery Program will be eligible to provide quotations and carry out works under this program; you do not need to register again.

New service provider businesses wishing to participate in this program must register their details online by following the links at https://businessrecovery.nt.gov.au/tradie-contractor.

After you apply

Eligible works must be completed within six calendar months of the date of issue of the voucher. 

No further applications will be accepted/ assessed once grant funds have been fully committed or the program has closed.

IMPORTANT: Please read information below to assist you in completing your application online.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

For queries about the guidelines, deadlines, or questions in the form, please contact us on 1800 193 111 during business hours or email businessrebound@nt.gov.au and quote your submission number.

Click here to view the program terms and conditions.

If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

NAVIGATING (MOVING THROUGH) THE APPLICATION FORM

On every screen (page of the form) you will find a Form Navigation contents box, this links directly to every page of the application. Click the link to jump directly to the page you want.

You can also click 'next page' or 'previous page' on the top or bottom of each page to move forward or backward through the application.

SAVING YOUR DRAFT APPLICATION

If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press 'save and close' and log out. When you log back in and click on the 'My Submissions' link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of any applications you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft application and start where you left off.

You can also download any application, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the 'Download PDF' button located at the bottom of the last page of the application form.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

You will find a Review and Submit button at the bottom of the Navigation Panel. You need to review your application before you can submit it.

Once you have reviewed your application you can submit it by clicking on 'Submit' at the top or bottom of the screen or on the navigation panel. You will not be able to submit your application until all the compulsory questions are completed and there are no validation errors.

Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible.

When you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application attached. This will be sent to the email you used to register.

If you do not receive a confirmation of submission email then you should presume that your submission has NOT been submitted.

Hint: also check the email hasn’t landed in your spam or junk email folder.

ATTACHMENTS AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS

You may need to upload/submit attachments to support your application. This is very simple, but requires you to have the documents saved on your computer, or on a storage device.

You need to allow enough time for each file to upload before trying to attach another file. Files can be up to 25MB each; however, we do recommend trying to keep files to a maximum of 5MB – the larger the file, the longer the upload time.

COMPLETING AN APPLICATION IN A GROUP/TEAM

A number of people can work on an application using the same log in details as long as only one person is working at a time. Ensure you save as you go.

SPELL CHECK

Most internet browsers (including Firefox v2.0 and above; Safari; and Google Chrome) have spell checking facilities built in – you can switch this function on or off by adjusting your browser settings.