As the Australian business sector gains momentum again, the Northern Territory (NT) has released a collection of business support to boost productivity and strengthen the state’s economy.

The Northern Territory and Australian Governments have developed a wide range of grants, loans, schemes, and other support to assist with businesses’ growth.

Each grant listed below is strategically designed to assist NT businesses with either growth, upskilling or support offering aid from the effects of the pandemic or natural disasters.

Current support available includes:



• Current Northern Territory Government Support for Small & Emerging Businesses
• Aboriginal Tourism Businesses Grant Program 2022 NT
• Business Growth Program NT
• Business Pivot Grant NT
• Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements
• NT Business Events Support Fund
• Youth Jobs PaTH
• Aboriginal Business Development Program
• Current Northern Territory Government Support for Disaster Relief
• Disaster Assistance
• Current Northern Territory Government Support for businesses affected by COVID-19
• SME Recovery Loan Scheme
• Indigenous Business Australia — COVID-19 Support
• JobMaker Hiring Credit

Current Northern Territory Government Support for Small & Emerging Businesses

Aboriginal-owned tourism businesses in the Northern Territory can apply for funding to assist with the implementation of an online booking platform.

Eligible Aboriginal-owned tourism businesses will receive funding for up to $5,000 for an online booking system to integrate onto a current website or create a website featuring a booking system.

Applications are open until 18 May 2022. Learn more about the grant and register through the  Northern Territory Tourism NT  website.

To be eligible, your business must: 



• Be at least 50% Aboriginal owned tourism business located in the Northern Territory.
• Be legally constituted and registered in Australia.
• Apply for an Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing or already have a listing at the time of grant application.
• Be a member of a Northern Territory peak industry body or have applied to be a member at the time of grant application.
• Have employees who are residents of the Northern Territory.

Business Growth Program NT

The Business Growth Program provides funding of up to $10,000 for eligible Northern Territory businesses to access professional advice systems and services for businesses development.

Small businesses, Aboriginal enterprises and not-for-profit organisations may be eligible to receive funding for programs, mentoring and coaching to assist with business growth.

Applications close 30 June 2022. Learn more on eligibility and how you can apply through the  Business Growth Program  website.

To be eligible, you must:



• Be an enterprise situated in the Northern Territory with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $10 million.
• Have an Australian business number (ABN) and operate in the NT for at least six months.
• Have one full-time employee. However, your business must not have more than 20 full-time employees.

Business Pivot Grant NT

Darwin, Alice Springs and other NT businesses may be eligible for the Business Pivot Grant NT that has been developed to improve business performance, increase revenue and access new markets.

The Small Business Pivot Grant provides eligible small businesses with a matched funding of up to $10,000 to help build their digital capabilities.

Activities in which funding can be used for are obtaining new digital technology, upskilling, improvements to business premises and digital purchases in hope to access new markets.

Applications close 30 June 2022. Check out the  Business Pivot Grant  website for more information on eligibility and how to apply.

To be eligible, your business must:



• Be an actively trading Northern Territory small business with an annual turnover of less than $10 million.
• Match the funding with a 50:50 co-contribution.

Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements

To support employers to take on new apprentices or trainees, the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements will provide a subsidy of 50% of the apprentice’s gross wages.

Businesses who engage an Australian apprentice of any size can apply.

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement subsidy covers an eligible apprentice’s wages for 12 months ($7,000 limit per quarter).

Applications close 21 December 2022 and can be found through the  Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider  website.

To be eligible, your business must:

• Have engaged with an Australian apprentice between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022.
• Undertake an Australian apprentice or trainee studying for a Certificate II or higher qualification and has a formally approved training contract by the state training authority.

Note : The subsidy is not available if the apprentice in mention receives another form of Australian Government wage subsidy.

NT Business Events Support Fund

The Northern Territory Business Events Support Fund is providing funding for event planners to host business events in the Northern Territory.

With the aim to assist the Northern Territory business events sector, the NT Business Events Support Fund will fund up to $100 per delegate of the prospected event.

Examples of qualified events include corporate meetings, conferences, conventions, exhibitions and incentives.

Applications are ongoing. Visit the  NT Business Events Support Fund  website for more information on eligibility and how to apply.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be considering, but not yet confirmed, the Northern Territory as the destination of the event.
• Have at least 80% of delegates for your event travelling from outside the NT.
• Have previously held this event in earlier years.

Youth Jobs PaTH

Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare – Trial – Hire) offers to fund up to $10,000 to eligible businesses trialling/hiring people aged 17 to 24.

A specific job trialling structure is required to receive funding from Youth Jobs PaTH’s program. The required job trialling structure will be a 4-to-12-week internship format where eligible businesses can receive up to $1,000 to cover hosting costs.

Then, if the trial was successful and you wish to hire the person, you might be eligible for an additional wage subsidy of up to $10,000.

Applications are ongoing. To apply, register on the  jobactive  website to advertise your job trial.

If you need help arranging a trial or accessing a wage subsidy visit  Employment services provider  website.

To be eligible to host a trial, your business must: 



• Have a job vacancy that needs filling.
• Be likely to have another upcoming vacancy following the trial or regularly need more employees.
  

Aboriginal Business Development Program

The Aboriginal Business Development Program provides funding for Aboriginal-owned emerging or expanding businesses.

Aboriginal people who are starting or expanding their business may be eligible for up to $30,000 from the Aboriginal Business Development Program.

If your application is successful, you will also receive one-on-one support from a small business champion.

Applications are ongoing and can be made through the  Aboriginal Business Development Program  website.

To be eligible, you must:



• Be a resident of the NT and have a registered business in the NT or have a proposed business that is at least 50% Aboriginal-owned and operated.
• Demonstrate commitment from land councils where appropriate.
• Prove you can make required financial contributions.
  

Current Northern Territory Government Support for Disaster Relief

Disaster Assistance

The Australian Government has implemented the Disaster Assistance Program to support businesses across Australia who have been affected by natural disasters.

Types of assistance and support include:

• A one-off payment from the  Disaster Recovery Payment  program.
• A short-term payment from the  Disaster Recovery Allowance  program.

Assistance and funding are provided by the Commonwealth-Territory Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

Applications are ongoing and can be made through the  Disaster Assist  website.



To be eligible, you must make a claim within the claiming period and be in an area eligible for assistance.

Current Northern Territory Government Support for businesses affected by COVID-19 

SME Recovery Loan Scheme

The Australian Government has introduced the SME Recovery Loan Scheme to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in recovering from the impacts of the global pandemic.

Loans of up to $5 million will enable eligible small and medium-sized business owners to maintain, grow and invest in their business’s future.

To ensure the success of the SME Recovery Loan Scheme, the Australian Government is working with lenders on providing cheaper credit and ensuring eligible businesses can access finance.

Applications close 30 June 2022. Visit the  SME Recovery Loan Scheme  website to find more information on how to apply, eligibility and participating lenders.

To be eligible, your business must:

• Have a turnover of up to $250 million.
• Have been a recipient of a JobKeeper payment between 4 Jan 2021 and 28 Mar 2021.
• Have been adversely affected by the floods in eligible Local Government Areas in March 2021.
• Have been adversely affected by COVID‑19.

Note : Eligible business models also include self-employed and non-profit. Businesses who have accessed loans in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the SME Recovery Loan Scheme can also apply.

Indigenous Business Australia — COVID-19 Support

Indigenous businesses impacted by the pandemic may be eligible for Indigenous Business Australia — COVID-19 Support, which provides advice and working capital assistance of up to $200,000.

The Indigenous Business Australia Package has been developed in collaboration with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).

A loan will be provided to, “Assist with working capital needs, with a term of up to 5 years, with no repayments for the first 12 months, and preferential interest rates.”



Register to become an  IBA  customer and contact your Relationship Manager to find out more information on eligibility and how to apply.

JobMaker Hiring Credit

The JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme provides up to $200 per week for employers hiring job seekers aged 16 to 35.

Australian businesses operating a business or not-for-profit can register and then claim JobMaker Hiring Credit payments for 12 months for each new job filled.

Eligible businesses will receive:

• “Up to $200 a week – for each eligible employee aged 16 to 29 years old.”
• “Up to $100 a week – for each eligible employee aged 30 to 35 years old.”

Applications close 06 Oct 2022 and can be found through the  JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme  website.

To register, visit the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)  online business services  or via your registered tax or BAS agent.

To be eligible, your business must:



• Register for the JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme.
• Operate in Australia and hold an Australian business number (ABN).
• Be registered for PAYG withholding.
• Not have claimed JobKeeper payments for a fortnight that started during the JobMaker period.
• Be up to date with income tax and GST returns for the two years up to the end of the JobMaker period you’re claiming to satisfy payroll increase and the headcount increase conditions and reporting requirements.
• Not belong to an ineligible employer category.
  

Need help finding support for your Northern Territory business?

The Northern Territory Government has developed a Small Business Champions initiative to help businesses owners find support they can access.

Small businesses can also receive additional support for networking, information, tools and resources.

Visit the  NT.gov  website for details on accessing a small business champion.

Check out the  Support for Business page  on the NT.gov website for more resources to help NT businesses.



Disclaimer: The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not replace

professional, legal or financial advice. While the information outlined is presumed correct at time of publication, please consult the corresponding government websites to ensure accuracy and current status.