Dear Members,

Please see below EDM from Sport & Recreation.   Note we are still awaiting what the lockdown extension rules are specifically and will communicate this as soon as we know.Please see below information regarding various levels of support and grants available.  We encourage you to investigate the specifics of these further; particularly all our coaching businesses and private coaches as you will see this is specifically called out below.

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Thank you for continuing to stay at home to assist in our response to positive cases of COVID-19 in the ACT.
 
As indicated in today’s press conference by the Chief Minister, the lockdown will be extended for a further two weeks. More information will be provided at tomorrow’s press conference.
 
The proactive communication to your clubs and members regarding the current situation and the cancellation of all training and competitions is to be commended. We understand the challenges this lockdown is presenting, particularly for many winter sports that are fast approaching finals and the end of seasons, but we thank you for your support in following lockdown rules to help keep our community safe.
 
As you would have heard there have been a couple of COVID exposure sites within our sporting community so it’s important that we all stay vigilant and stay at home following all the ACT Health advice regarding restrictions.

The ACT Government is supporting small and medium businesses in the ACT who have been impacted by the lockdown measures. Examples of businesses within our sporting community who might like to consider investigating this support include golf courses, private sport coaches/academies, gyms and dance schools and other sport facility operators.

The ACT COVID-19 Business Support Grant will deliver grants of $3,000 for employing businesses and $1,000 for non-employing businesses. The grants will be available to local businesses that have experienced at least a 30% reduction in turnover due to restricted trading conditions. The timeframes for this support grant are currently being revised in consultation with the Commonwealth given the changing COVID-19 situation.

The ACT Government will also open a COVID-19 Small Business Hardship Scheme, where eligible small businesses will be able to apply to the ACT Government to receive credits for payroll tax, utility charges, rates and other selected fees and charges up to a maximum of $10,000 per operator. To be eligible for credits the applicant must be able to demonstrate a 30 per cent loss in revenue.

Details of these schemes are being finalised. Businesses can express interest in the schemes via the Business Hub website.

The ACT Government has a dedicated COVID-19 website for all information about the health response to the pandemic in the ACT. For further information visit www.covid19.act.gov.au.

If you have further queries or would to discuss this please contact rebecca.kelley@act.gov.au or wayne.lacey@act.gov.au or call 02 6207 2080.

Sincerely

Rebecca Kelley
Executive Branch Manager
Sport and Recreation