Business Cyclone Relief Fund
The Government has announced details of the $25 million business support package for impacted businesses in the seven regions hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and the January floods.
The main focus of the support will help firms maintain cashflow and position them for a successful recovery. Grants will also support firms that face significant cashflow issues due to continued challenges with customer access, ability to source stock, supply chain issues, inability to operate as usual due to physical damage to equipment or premises, or delays in insurance assessment and repairs.
The grants – to a maximum of $40,000 – will be delivered by local delivery partners as we know the people on the ground and from the regions are best placed to do this. Our local delivery partners are now working on standing up their application and payment systems so they can start accepting applications as soon as possible, and will advise their local business communities when applications are live.
In the meantime, general criteria is available on business.govt.nz so firms can start preparing some of the information they need for the application process.
Generally, business information such as type of business, location, and information about the impact they have experienced will be needed, but each local delivery partners will let people know the specific information they will need.
Support for mental wellbeing will also be available through the existing First Steps programme run by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, phone: 0800 178 783
This programme is accessible to all impacted businesses, not just those in Auckland.
Advice and guidance for affected businesses will also be available via the EMA 0800 number and our network of Regional Business Partners whose advisors can work with cyclone-affected firms: EMA Business Helpline: 0800 500 362
To apply for support, businesses must meet the following criteria:
- be primarily located where a regional State of Emergency was declared
- face significant cashflow issues due to continued challenges with customer access, ability to source stock, supply chain issues, inability to operate as usual due to physical damage to equipment or premises, or delays in insurance assessment and repairs
- be an otherwise viable business both before and after the flooding
- not have received any funding from the MPI recovery fund
- commit to acting in line with employment law and with due regard to its employees
Local delivery partners may set additional criteria on top of these, depending on the circumstances of their respective region. There is a cap of $40,000 support for affected business, in line with the MPI Cyclone Gabrielle relief package.
The local delivery partners who will administer the grants, in consultation with local business groups and iwi, are:
- Northland Inc
- Auckland Business Chamber
- Toi Economic Development Agency
- Thames-Coromandel District Council
- Trust Tairāwhiti
- Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce
- Taraua District Council
The Government has a range of existing support in place for small businesses, all of which are accessible via the business.govt.nz website. These include, for example, one-one business advice from Regional Business Partners.