Covid-19 relief funds and other support available for small businesses.
Business concierge service
We’re here to help. We have a dedicated team to answer any questions and steer you in the right direction with either City of Sydney, state or federal government resources available. Call us on 02 9265 9333 Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm or email CityConcierge@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.
NSW Covid-19 business support package
The NSW Government's economic support package is aimed at helping businesses affected by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Key features include:
- Small business support payments – increased to $7500, $10,500 or $15,000 depending on the decline in business turnover
- JobSaver employee retention scheme now extended until end of November – providing cashflow support to businesses to help retain staff
- Payroll tax deferrals for all businesses
- A 25% concession for businesses with Australian wages of $1.2 million to $10 million that have experienced a 30% decline in turnover
- A performing arts sector $75 million support package to be administered by Create NSW
- An accommodation sector $26 million support package, including the Stay and Rediscover voucher program.
Help for our retail, hospitality and professional service businesses
The NSW Government offers resources to protect employees and customers from Covid-19. Personalised support or financial relief is available including a $2,000 small business fees and charges rebate.
The 2021 Covid-19 support package includes the small business Covid-19 support grant, the hospitality and tourism Covid-19 support grant, as well as changes to the Dine & Discover program. Eligible businesses include small business, not-for-profits and sole traders.
Annual liquor licence fee waiver applications due to financial hardship are open until 8 November.
You can speak directly with Service NSW about state government resources to help you through this latest lockdown. Book a concierge call online.
The Australian Government has also announced more funding and support including JobMaker, apprenticeship support, asset and investment deductions and a small to medium enterprise recovery scheme. Check to see if you’re eligible.
Help for our creative community: arts, screen and cultural sector
A Covid-19 rescue and restart package has been announced for the NSW arts and cultural sector. Funding is available to NSW commercial and not-for-profit performing arts organisations, and live music venues impacted by the cancellation of shows.
Create NSW has a comprehensive listing of links to grants and other financial assistance for creatives.
Contact the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline on 1800 959 500 if you are concerned about any aspect of your mental health. Support Act provides a range of crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers. Visit their website to find resources to help you give or get wellbeing support, access funding, or hear how others in the music community have overcome challenges.
Business grant funding
The latest City of Sydney grants round closed in August. Our next grants round opens in February 2022 and will cover business support, festivals and events, live music and performance, and night-time diversification projects.
Our support so far
- 2 Covid-19 relief support packages in 2020 valued at $72.5 million to help the safety and survival of the business, cultural and community sectors.
- Fees waived for footway dining and filming to making doing business easier.
- Temporary changes to allow some venues to extend operating hours, increase the space they use for outdoor dining and host entertainment.
- Fast-tracking $23 million worth of future capital works projects. This included paving upgrades, park and landscape renewals and essential building upgrades.
- Continuing to advocate to government on behalf of local small businesses. We’re reviewing business feedback and available support at a state and federal level to identify any gaps for the City of Sydney to play a supporting role.
Read more about how we're supporting businesses to reopen safely.
Visit NSW Health for a comprehensive contact list of mental health support services.
Published 12 July 2021, updated 15 February 2024
