Kate Triggs' beauty salon Sheeradiance Beauty was shut for nine weeks and two days due to the coronavirus.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I did have to borrow a fair bit of money and live very frugally," she said.
The Jobkeeper payment for staff did not start until five weeks after her business closed meaning she had to pay her employees from her own funds.
Her efforts to get re-payments delayed on a laser machine were knocked back.
She said it had been an "extremely stressful" time.
This is extremely generous and so nice.
- Kate Triggs, owner of Sheeradiance Beauty
But today she is open again and seeking to be a recipient of a grant being offered by Newcrest's Cadia Valley operations in a $500,000 package to help small businesses recover from financial hits due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
Businesses in Orange, Blayney and Cabonne council areas with up to 15 staff will be offered two types of grants of up to $5000 and up to $10,000.
Organised by Central NSW Business HQ the money will be supported by advice from business coaches about how to get back in business.
Mrs Triggs said she was thrilled to be back at her Summer Street business and pleased Newcrest was offering the grant.
"This is extremely generous and so nice," she said.
"The local support has been overwhelming. We're so lucky to live in Orange."
Cadia's acting general manager Aaron Brannigan said it was "a hand up rather than a hand out" from the Newcrest Community Support Fund.
The company expects about 80-120 businesses will be eligible to share the funding and advice.
"The business community is the backbone of our local economy," Mr Brannigan said.
"We need to stand tall and support each other by providing a hand up, rather than a handout, with the aim of helping local businesses become more sustainable and resilient in the medium to long term."
Central NSW Business HQ CEO Wayne Sunderland said many small businesses were struggling and the Newcrest Business Beyond the Curve Program would help them.
"The areas of Orange, Blayney and Cabonne have a heavy reliance on small businesses for the supply of goods and services, due to the reluctance of large retail chains to open in regional areas," he said.
"The impact of COVID-19 has threatened their future viability and so we are very keen to partner with Newcrest in this important program."
He said the funding would also provide a multiplier affect locally as the small businesses spent the money.
Mr Sunderland said applications were now open.
Go to the Business HQ website to apply for the aid.
HAVE YOUR SAY
- Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...