Cyclone Gabrielle Business Recovery Grant

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The Business Recovery Grant Fund is now closed.

We received 528 applications seeking $10.8 million in support for an available $3.8 million in central government funding tasked to our Council to allocate for Waikato region.

An Independent Advisory Panel reviewed all applications.

Payments to 396 successful recipients to date have been completed and the entire fund from Tranche One and Two funding has now been distributed. The 132 unsuccessful applicants have now been notified by email. The average grant per recipient is $9,596 (dividing $3.8 million by 396). An additional $25 million of business recovery support has now been confirmed by central government for regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Approximately $4.3 million will be allocated to our Council to administer on behalf of the Waikato region. We'll be distributing this over the next fortnight as soon as our Independent Panel signs it off.

In response to the recent storm events Central Government announced the creation of the Cyclone Gabrielle Business Recovery Grant.   

To be eligible for this funding businesses must have been:

  • Located within the Waikato Region.  

  • Facing significant and sustained cashflow issues due to continued challenges with customer access, ability to source stock, supply chain issues, inability to operate as usual due to the physical damage to equipment or premises, or delays in insurance assessment and repairs. 

  • Otherwise viable both before and after the storm events. 

  • Not receiving any funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries recovery fund. 

  • Committed to acting in line with employment law and with due regard to your employees. 

Fund applications closed on Friday 31 March 2023. 

Assessment process

The Thames-Coromandel District Council was the organisation responsible for the assessment and distribution of this funding. An Independent Advisory Panel of business representatives from the Waikato region made recommendations on applications.  

The Independent Assessment Panel used the following funding guidelines:

  • Self-employed owner/operator were eligible for up to $5k,  

  • Businesses with 1-5 staff were eligible for up to $20k,  

  • Businesses with 6+ staff were eligible for up to $40k.  

Exceptions to the funding guidelines for self-employed operators and Businesses with 1-5 staff were considered in exceptional circumstances. 

Public notification

A list of businesses awarded a Business Recovery Grant can be found here. (PDF, 198KB)

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