Anchor Business Support Grant Program

Eligible applicants include businesses which are physically located and operating within the Northern Rivers, who: 

a. hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN), registered prior to 22 February 2022 

b. are registered within Northern Rivers per their main business location on the Australian Business Register 

c. employ a minimum of 200 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees within Northern Rivers as at 21 February 2022 

d. suffered significant damage to their assets, as a direct result of the disaster event 

e. intend to continue operating or re-establish operations within the Northern Rivers, as their main business location 

f. have been operating in the Northern Rivers for at least 12 months prior to 22 February 2022; and 

g. were financially viable prior to the disaster event. 

Businesses may also be considered eligible if, in the determination of the New South Wales Government, 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.

Ineligible applicants include businesses that:  

a. have received alternative grants or concessional interest rate loans under the DRFA for the disaster event. This includes, but is not limited to: 

  i. $10,000 small business northern flood grant  

  ii. $200,000 medium business flood grant;  

  iii. Rural Landholders Grant; or iv. Primary Industry Support Package  

b. are listed on a public securities exchange (e.g. Australian Securities Exchange), or are wholly or partially (greater than 20%) owned by an entity listed on a public securities exchange  

c. operate in more than one country (multinational corporations), or are part of a group which operates in more than one country  

d. are government entities, or are wholly owned by a government entity; or  

e. are in liquidation or provisional liquidation.

Only one application can be submitted for a single ABN. Only one application is permitted where there are multiple businesses under a single ABN, or where a single business holds multiple ABNs. 

Eligible costs include, but are not limited to:

a. 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  

b. costs to replace or restore business assets damaged as a direct result of the disaster event  

c. costs to support the business improve its resilience to natural disasters through:

  i. purchase, installation or construction of more resilient business assets,

  ii. capability uplift of employees to improve the business’ ability to respond to natural disasters, or

  iii. feasibility studies relating to business resilience or other resilience planning for future natural disasters  

d. purchase or leasing of equipment to enable the immediate resumption of the business within the Northern Rivers  

e. leasing of temporary premises to enable the immediate resumption of the business within the Northern Rivers  

f. marketing and communication to advertise the resumption of the business  

g. replacing lost or damaged stock as a direct result of the disaster event  

h. insurance excesses paid as a result of an insurance claim for assets damaged as a direct result of the disaster event; and  

i. 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.

Ineligible costs include costs that: 

a. a business is entitled to make a claim for under an insurance policy  

b. relate to Goods and Services Tax (GST)  

c. have been recovered from any other source (e.g. another grants program)  

d. relate to payment of dividends or returns to shareholders  

e. relate to the payment of bonuses  

f. relate to the repayment of loans or other financial liabilities to financial institutions or government agencies; or  

g. relate to the retrenchment of employees.

Please refer to the Program Guidelines (PDF 443.2KB).