A suite of fresh economic stimulus initiatives by the Nationals in NSW Government is set to help Clarence and Richmond Valley businesses roar back in a new vaccine-protected environment, according to Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis.
“On the way are more Dine & Discover vouchers, a bigger Small Business Fees & Charges Rebate, a new $20,000 Summer Holiday Stock Guarantee and $5000 grants to help hospitality venues set up their own alfresco dining,” Mr Gulaptis said.
“Every NSW adult will soon get two extra $25 Dine & Discover vouchers – one more of each – and if you have any left over from the last allocation, you now have until the middle of next year to spend them.”
Mr Gulaptis said the new vouchers should appear automatically in people’s Service NSW app in December alongside those from earlier this year.
“Clarence and Richmond Valley small businesses will also now be able to save an extra $500 from expenses like registrations and rates with the popular Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate increasing from $1500 to $2000 and eligible for use until 30 June 2022,” Mr Gulaptis said.
“In addition, the Nationals in NSW Government are introducing a form of COVID-19 lockdown insurance for small business.
“The innovative SME Summer Holiday Stock Guarantee enables NSW businesses with a $75,000 to $50 million turnover to apply for a $20,000 to compensate for loss of perishable stock, or $10,000 for reduced capacity to sell non-perishable items if they are impacted by a new local lockdown this summer.”
Information on the expanded Small business Fees and Charges Rebate is available on the Service NSW website www.service.nsw.gov.au with details of the new Stock Guarantee also available online very soon.
Mr Gulaptis said the Nationals recognised that hospitality businesses had been particularly hard hit by COVID and that many wanted to adapt by providing COVID-safer outdoor dining experiences for their patrons.
“That is why we’re providing 5,000 hospitality businesses a $5,000 grant to get their outdoor dining venture off the ground – whether that’s to help set-up curb-side dining or a pub-style courtyard,” Mr Gulaptis said.
It is part of an Alfresco Restart initiative which also relaxes rules and restrictions for establishing outdoor dining, more info at www.planning.nsw.gov.au.