Anchor Business Support Grant Program - FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the Australian and NSW governments’ $59.3 million Anchor Business Support Grant Program, which will support flood-affected large businesses in the Northern Rivers to recover and rebuild.

What is the Anchor Business Support Grant Program?

The Australian and NSW governments’ $59.3 million Anchor Business Support Grant Program will support flood-affected large businesses in the Northern Rivers to recover and rebuild. 

The program will provide financial assistance to help large businesses that employ more than 200 people return to operations quickly, increase resilience to natural disasters and help people return to their jobs.

How much funding is available under the Anchor Business Support Grant Program?

The Australian and NSW governments have made $59.3 million available through the Anchor Business Support Grant Program. 

As part of the program, flood impacted large businesses in eligible local government areas can apply if the business was employing 200 or more full-time equivalent employees as at 22 February 2022. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to co-contribute either cash or in-kind to their funding proposal.

How many funding proposals can I include in my application?

Applicants can include up to three funding proposals within their application, noting their preferred funding proposal option in their application. 

An applicant may receive funding for all of the activities within a funding proposal, some of the activities within a funding proposal, or a combination of activities across funding proposals submitted. It is recommended applicants consider high, medium and lower cost funding proposals within their application, to enable consideration of a range of options within the funding available.

Which local government areas are eligible under the Anchor Business Support Grant Program?

Eligible local government areas include:

  • Ballina
  • Byron
  • Clarence Valley
  • Lismore
  • Richmond Valley
  • Tweed
  • Kyogle
How did the Australian and NSW governments identify the eligible local government areas?

The eligible LGAs have been determined based on the 61 disaster declared LGAs outlined within the Australian Government Reference Number (AGRN) 1012 and their location in the Northern Rivers due to the extensive impacts in this region. 

View more information regarding the natural disaster declaration.

Who is eligible to apply?

Large businesses who were directly impacted by flooding in the eligible local government areas can apply if the business:

  • holds an active Australian Business Number (ABN), registered prior to 22 February 2022
  • are registered within Northern Rivers as their main business location on the Australian Business Register
  • employs a minimum of 200 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees within Northern Rivers as at 21 February 2022
  • suffered significant damage to their assets, as a direct result of the disaster event
  • intend to continue operating or re-establish operations within the Northern Rivers, as their main business location
  • have been operating in the Northern Rivers for at least 12 months prior to 22 February 2022; and
  • were financially viable prior to the disaster event.

Businesses may also be considered eligible if, in the determination of the Department of Regional NSW, exceptional circumstances apply. This may include, but is not limited to, consideration of businesses which are not registered within Northern Rivers as their main business location, however can demonstrate they have significant operations within the Northern Rivers, and meet all other eligibility requirements.

What type of costs can be funded under the Anchor Business Support Grant Program?

Eligible costs could include:

  • equipment, materials and labour costs for the clean-up, removal, and disposal of debris from the business premises, as a direct result of the disaster event;
  • costs to replace or restore business assets damaged as a direct result of the disaster event; 
  • costs to support the business improve its resilience to natural disasters through;
    • purchase, installation or construction of more resilient business assets;
    • capability uplift of employees to improve the business’ ability to respond to natural disasters; 
    • feasibility studies relating to business resilience or other resilience planning for future natural disasters;
  • purchase or leasing of equipment to enable the immediate resumption of the business within the Northern Rivers;
  • leasing of temporary premises to enable the immediate resumption of the business within the Northern Rivers;
  • marketing and communication to advertise the resumption of the business;
  • replacing lost or damaged stock as a direct result of the disaster event;
  • insurance excesses paid as a result of an insurance claim for assets damaged as a direct result of the disaster event; and
  • working capital, including salaries and wages for employees who commenced employment prior to 22 February 2022, to enable these employees to remain employed during the re-establishment of the business.
What type of works will not be funded under the Anchor Business Support Grant Program?

Ineligible costs include costs that:

  • a business is entitled to make a claim under an insurance policy;
  • the claim is related to Goods and Services Tax (GST);
  • the claim has already been recovered from any other source, such as another grants program;
  • the claim is related to payment of dividends or returns to shareholders;
  • the claim is related to the payment of bonuses;
  • the claim is related to the repayment of loans or other financial liabilities to financial institutions or government agencies; or
  • the claim is related to the retrenchment of employees. 
Part of my business operates or owns equipment in one of the defined disaster areas but is not based in an eligible local government area, can I apply?

Consideration will be given to businesses which are not registered within Northern Rivers as their main business location that can demonstrate they have significant operations within the Northern Rivers and meet all other eligibility requirements. 

I am not in an eligible local government area. Can I still apply for the Anchor Support Business Grant?

No. The Anchor Support Business Grant is only open to large businesses in the seven targeted local government areas which were the most heavily impacted from the 2022 Floods.  

Other storm and flood support measures have been put in place by the NSW and Australian Governments. 

For a full list of all available support, visit nsw.gov.au/floods or call 13 77 88. 

What evidence of damage needs to be provided with my application?

Applicants need to supply proof of damage to the business as a direct result of the disaster event which may include photographs, insurance assessment reports, damage assessment reports, quotes for replacement/restoration of business assets.

Can eligible businesses apply for the grant more than once?

No. Businesses can only submit one application, which may include up to three separate proposals detailing their recovery needs and how they would use funding in accordance with the program’s objectives.

I received another government support grant for my flood impacted business, can I still apply?

Businesses will not be eligible for the Anchor Support Business Grant if they have:

  • received the Northern Rivers Medium Size Business Grant;
  • received the $50,000 Small Business Recovery Grant;
  • received the $10,000 Small Business Support Grant; 
  • received funding from a government source that is covering the same costs; or
  • are entitled to full reimbursement for flood damage through insurance.
I’m eligible for the Anchor Business Support Grant but have already applied for the Northern Rivers Medium Size Business Grant, can I change my application?

Yes. Emailregionalnsw.business@regional.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 679 673.

My business is experiencing financial hardship but it doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria, can I apply?

Businesses may be eligible if they can show that they are experiencing financial hardship.

The Department of Regional NSW will independently consider applicants declaring financial hardship on a case-by-case basis.

We encourage you to contact us prior to submitting an application to discuss your options. Email regionalnsw.business@regional.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 679 673, from 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday.

Who is responsible for administering the Anchor Support Business Grant Program?

The program will be administered by the Department of Regional NSW.

Where do I register?

Register for the Anchor Business Support Grant program on Smarty Grants. For further information about the program, email regionalnsw.business@regional.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 679 673, from 7am-7pm, Monday to Friday.

When will I find out if my application is successful?

Where all required information is provided at the time of the application, applicants will be advised of the outcome 30 business days from the closing date on 26 July 2022.

When do funds need to be expended by?

Grants are expected to be fully expended by eligible businesses by 30 June 2023.

I have already incurred costs for eligible activities, can these be claimed against the grant?

Applicants can claim flood related costs incurred since 22 February 2022 either as a co-contribution to the grant or as part of the grant funding amount requested.

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