Brisbane Chamber and City of Brisbane Distribute $200,000 to 34 Small Businesses
In 2021, the Brisbane City Council allocated $200,000 of federal relief funds to support small businesses in Brisbane impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the course of 2021 and 2022, the Brisbane Chamber, in partnership with the City, conducted two rounds of grant applications to determine eligible applicants. During the first grant round, businesses that were open prior to the pandemic could apply. These businesses had to demonstrate a 25% decline in revenues or profit in 2020 compared to 2019.
In the second grant round, the City Council adjusted the eligibility requirements to encourage more businesses to apply. The threshold of revenue loss in order to qualify dropped from 25% to 15%, and new businesses who signed leases for commercial properties in Brisbane in 2020 were also eligible to apply. The Council wanted to help support newly formed companies that experienced an even more difficult first year than businesses that started under normal circumstances.
The Chamber and the City disseminated information regarding the program using the signboards, The Luminary, Chamber email newsletter, City email newsletter, The STAR, passing out flyers to businesses, and calling them directly.
The Chamber hired MWoodruff Design, a female-owned Brisbane-based business, to develop the application portal. In addition, the Chamber hired Katherine Loh, another female-owned Brisbane-based company, to translate the application and flyers into Chinese, Tagalog, and Spanish.
Money was divided evenly among the applicants in both rounds. All applicants who met the requirements and submitted the necessary documents received a grant.
The 34 Brisbane businesses that received grants over the two rounds included: Carter Dow Photography, Ole Travel, R & H Repairs, KNECHTUS, James Fitzgerald DDS, Brisbane Laundromat, Na Na’s Kitchen, Trigonis Construction, CocoTutti Chocolates, Round N Round Pot, Beauty Fix Studio, Jeffrey Co Consulting, ZA Restoration, YENZYM Antibodies, Green Spa, Jonie Uniforms, Brisbane Chiropractic, 7 Mile House, Pro Nails, R.S. Randall & Co, Rosedale Floral Design, Aloft Consulting, Travel Too, Salmon Construction, Couture Costume, Star City Salon, L & D Bistro, MoBowL, U.S. Surveillance Systems, Phil Marks Chocolates, Chef Reina, Saint Studio, Skin Body Zen, and Visual Prophets.
35% of these local businesses are female-owned, 55% are minority-owned, and one is LGBTQ-owned.
Congratulations to all the grant recipients and we hope these funds have helped sustain your business during this difficult time!
