Grants will range from up to $5,000 for smaller business to up to $100,000 for businesses with a larger turnover, Tasmanian Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events Sarah Courtney said in a statement.
This program is targeted to support those local small businesses that have high barriers to entry in terms of capital or specialist skill or equipment requirements, and that provide critical event support infrastructure and other services that are essential to the running of events as part of the recovery of the visitor economy.
The funding could be used by small businesses to provide critical infrastructure — such as marquee hire, portable toilets, AV and technical support — as well as professional event organising businesses and promoters.
However, Ms Courtney said the grant is not for funding individual events, or for those who attend or participate in events; it is about supporting the providers of critical infrastructure and services that, without which, we would not be able to run major events at all.
“We know this is a very challenging time for events organisers, which is why we are delivering Event Ready Grants for events that can operate now, as well as developing a framework for larger events to occur in the future in a COVID-19-safe way,” she said.
Funding of $2.5 million will be used for a competitive merit-based grant round to assist eligible Tasmanian businesses.
The new round of funding will be made available through the Tasmanian government’s Event Infrastructure and Critical Support Small Business Grant program.
The program will open for applications on 19 October 2020 and close on 13 November 2020.
Businesses can read the full eligibility criteria and detailed guidelines by clicking here.
