We’re working to help our community through the current lockdown and beyond.
Our urgent response package provides immediate relief with grants, donations and fee waivers as well as support to revitalise the city post-lockdown. The City of Sydney’s direct package is worth $5 million. We’ve also waiving an extra $7.8-million worth in revenue and fees for each month of lockdown.
Community emergency quick response grants are now open
New community emergency quick response grants total $250,000. These grants support small-scale initiatives that help our communities respond to the impacts of the pandemic.
Up to $10,000 will be available for not-for-profit organisations and unincorporated community groups. We encourage applications from organisations that support Aboriginal and Torres and Strait Islander communities, including Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and networks.
Funding priorities include strengthening community connections, increasing digital inclusion, providing food to vulnerable communities and improving access to information on rights and conditions of tenants.
Find out more and apply today.
Supporting essential food supply services
To help vulnerable residents access food, we’re providing donations of $300,000 to both OzHarvest and Foodbank and $100,000 to SecondBite.
This continues our work with non-profit food agencies at the height of the 2020 lockdown.
Further support for vulnerable communities
We’ve invested $50,000 on a fresh supply of protective face masks to our vulnerable residents. An increased outreach program will help connect people with mental health and social connection support services.
Fee waivers during lockdown for businesses and some tenants
Our fee waivers will continue during the lockdown for footway dining, venue hire, banners, parking services, childcare and health and compliance activities.
We’re working with tenants on rent relief for City of Sydney-owned properties case by case.
The pandemic has had a severe impact on our community and economy. We are providing support through the crisis and ensuring we’re ready to help breathe life back into the city when lockdowns are lifted – Clover Moore, Lord Mayor
Support after the current restrictions ease
When NSW Health restrictions ease we’ll keep working to support recovery in the city centre and encourage people back in.
We’ll provide $4 million towards a grants program and resources to help businesses and creatives collaborate on initiatives that support reactivation after the lockdown.
We will provide $8.9 million in cash and value-in-kind through our existing grant programs to support the revitalisation of the economy, culture and community.
And together with the NSW Government we’ll extend our successful outdoor dining program and waive associated fees across the local government area until 30 June 2022.
This support package is designed to complement support available through state and federal government.
It builds on the $72.5 million support package released by the City of Sydney in April 2020 for small businesses, artists and the creative and community sectors, and the $20 million city centre revitalisation fund established by the City of Sydney and NSW government in October 2020.
One-on-one advice is available
Call our business concierge service to get one-on-one advice and support on what is available for you.
You can call 02 9265 9333 Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm or email CityConcierge@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Stay up-to-date on grant opportunities
Sign up for our grants newsletter and learn about current and future grant opportunities.
Published 27 July 2021, updated 6 September 2021
