Small businesses impacted by the unprecedented monsoon now have additional time to apply for recovery grants.
The Special Disaster Recovery Grants are jointly funded under the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Local Recovery and Resilience Group Chair Cr Les Walker said the extension was important to help local businesses get back up and running.
"Lots of Townsville's small businesses took a big hit during the monsoon earlier this year and the extension to this grant gives them more time to sort their affairs out and get back on track," Cr Walker said.
"I'd really like to encourage all our local businesses that were impacted to check to see if they're eligible for any of these grants and get their applications in before the revised closure date of November 29.
"It is coming up to six months since the monsoon, but we know that the recovery is still ongoing for many residents – we want these residents to know that there is still support available."
Small businesses and not-for-profits may be eligible for up to $50,000 to assist with clean-up, repairs and replacements or other recovery related activities.
Economic Recovery Group Chair Cr Verena Coombe said the extension on the deadline for grant applications would give small businesses the best chance to access support.
"We lobbied for an extension to these grants because we wanted as many of our local businesses to have the chance to access this support as possible," Cr Coombe said.
"This extends to not just small businesses, but also to our local not-for-profits such as sporting organisations that may have been impacted.
"I'm sure there are many small businesses that are grateful for the extra time."
