Council has created a single point of contact to help businesses in our community to navigate the support options available through Commonwealth and State Government Support Programs, Not for Profit organisations and Council.

Businesses that require assistance due to financial hardship, should contact Vicki on 8539 1100 as a first point of contact or email council@murraybridge.sa.gov.au.

Council is committed to supporting local business and is in the process of developing a page on our Website to provide information on local businesses for the wider community. This is an opportunity for businesses, especially retailers and food businesses, to provide information on whether their business is open and if there are any specific new services or business delivery models that have been developed as a result of COVID-19.

If you wish to be listed, please provide details of your business name, location, hours of operation, phone number, website / Facebook page. If you are a food business, please also provide details of whether delivery is available.

Details can be sent to council@murraybridge.sa.gov.au

The South Australian Government is providing eligible SA small businesses and not-for-profits with a $10,000 direct cash boost in a State Government plan to strengthen the backbone of the economy.

It will be available to:

• businesses that turn over at least $75,000 a year and have total wages bills up to $1.5 million
• not-for-profit groups, including sporting and community organisations

The emergency cash grants are intended to help cover operating costs such as rent, power bills, supplier and raw material costs and other fees.

Applications for the grant will open shortly and be available until 1 June 2020 and you can register your interest here.

If you are a commercial tenant the Commonwealth announcement on commercial tenancies may provide you with some relief. The new measures are designed to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) affected by the coronavirus.

This Code applies to tenants that are:

• a small-medium sized business with an annual turnover of up to $50 million
• eligible for the JobKeeper Payment

Rent reductions will be based on the tenant’s decline in turnover to ensure that the burden is shared between landlords and tenants.

The Code and its principles will be implemented and regulated by each state or territory.

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner provides information to improve the capacity of small businesses to manage their affairs and inform their decision making. In the current COVID-19 situation, the Office is also providing assistance to businesses facing particular issues or disputes in terms of their banks, their rental premises, suppliers or other business parties.

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner can be contacted through sasbc@sa.gov.au.

The RDA is able to assist businesses through the support and mentoring programs it offers, such as the Business 2 Business program.

The RDA is also gathering information from businesses on the issues that they are facing, the impact of COVID-19 on their operations and staffing and the outlook for their business. Council encourages businesses to complete the RDA’s short, 5 minute survey to assist in identifying any current or emerging needs to help both the RDA and Council in developing a response to the needs of our businesses.

Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland can be contacted on 8535 7170 or https://rdamr.com.au/

If your business has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, the Commonwealth Government is offering a number of different support packages for small and medium businesses, not for profits and sole traders.

Details of these packages are available on the Australian Government’s Treasury website.

If your business has been significantly impacted by COVID-19 you will be able to access a wages subsidy to continue paying your employees.

Under the JobKeeper program, you will be able to claim a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30 March 2020, for a maximum of six months. This assistance will help you keep staff and will help you restart when the crisis is over.

You can register your interest in the JobKeeper Payment on the ATO website, or visit business.gov.au for more detailed information on this support package.

If you have matters relating to staffing and industrial relations, please refer to your business or industry association which include Business SA; Australian Industry Group; Master Builders Association; Housing Industry Association; Australian Hotels Association; Restaurant and Caterers Association; Motor Trade Association; and Primary Producers SA who should be able to assist.

Alternatively the Fair Work Ombudsman has a help line to deal with pay and industrial relations matters on 13 13 94 or their website www.fairwork.gov.au.

COVID-Safe Design Materials provided by the Australian Government.

You can download the free design assets (including templates for co-branded posters)  here

If you, or anyone you know, are struggling, the new SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line is available from 8am to 8pm and can be reached on 1800 632 753.

Other mental health support that can be accessed includes:

Beyond Blue:                     1800 512 348

Lifeline:  13 11 14

Mensline Australia:           1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service:   1300 659 467

Kids Helpline:                    1800 551 800

COSBOA is offering grants to Australian small businesses adversely affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These grants are made possible by Salesforce. Grants will be offered as a ‘one off’ payment of $10,000 (including GST) to 67 businesses across Australia.

View the eligibility criteria and application process here.