NSW border zone businesses hurt by Victoria's May-June COVID lockdown will be able to get some government financial assistance after lobbying of the state's Treasury department was rewarded.
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Albury MP Justin Clancy, Business NSW regional manager Riverina Murray Anthony McFarlane and Murray Regional Tourism chief executive Mark Francis had been calling for assistance given the particular impact on tourism and hospitality.
The Sydney lockdown opened the door wider with NSW business grants announced earlier this week providing fresh impetus for their campaign.
"I just felt it was obviously pretty important, given the support across NSW, that there be consideration given for businesses on the border impacted by the Victorian lockdown," Mr Clancy said.
Mr McFarlane added the Sydney-inspired grants "provided the mechanism and we were then able to use that mechanism to apply it to Border businesses".
That means the Service NSW website will provide a portal for Border businesses affected by Victoria alongside the Sydney-driven grants.
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There will be $5000, $7000 and $10,000 lots with enterprises having to show a loss of turnover over a certain period to qualify.
Mr McFarlane hopes the scheme will be more heavily subscribed than last year's southern Border grants.
"We've made it clear to Treasury to learn from some of the shortcomings of the last grants, in terms of the location of the business and ABN to make sure we maximise the take-up," he said.
"Given businesses are mentally exhausted we've emphasised the need to keep it simple."
Applications are expected to be possible on the Service NSW website from July 19.
Mr McFarlane noted those in the tourism supply chain, such as butchers and cleaners, had been hit along with eateries and accommodation providers.
Mr Francis said the package would "provide critical financial support to ensure businesses can remain viable through the recovery phase and enable the region and our tourism businesses to be best placed to welcome back visitors".
