Support for Regional Victorian Businesses.
We know the hasty announcement of lockdown yesterday was a blow to many businesses just starting to find their way forward.
With the announcements of financial support coming today to cover the projected lockdown period until 2 September, we thought it was important to share this information with you as soon as we could.
FOR BUSINESSES IN GEELONG AND THE BELLARINE
Regional Victorian businesses now in the same lockdown as Melbourne will again receive financial assistance jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments. Some payments will be delivered automatically.
Here’s what you need to know:
Business Costs Assistance Program:
- Payments of $5,600 ($2,800 per week).
- This will occur automatically if you previously received grants under the Business Costs Assistance Round Two or July Extension programs.
- Total funding of $100.9 million.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021:
- Grants of of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 per week ,
- This will occur automatically if you previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or July Extension programs.
- Payment amounts will be tiered according to premises capacity: $5,000 for a capacity of up to 99 patrons, $10,000 for a capacity of 100 to 499 patrons, and $20,000 for a capacity of 500 patrons or more.
- Funding total $34.5 million.
If your business has received these payments in the past, they will be paid automatically. Further information about these support programs is available at www.business.vic.gov.au
Any businesses that do not qualify for these payments and have experienced at least 70% reduction in revenue are encouraged to apply for the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund.
FOR STAFF, INDIVIDUALS AND SOLE TRADERS
Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment will apply to workers and eligible sole traders in regional areas now subject to the same lockdown arrangements as Metropolitan Melbourne. This is set at $450 for anyone who loses between 8 hours (one day) and 20 hours of work, and $750 for 20 or more hours of work lost.
Individuals with certain Commonwealth income support are eligible for a $200 payment if they have lost 8 hours or more of work.
For employees, these payments are managed through www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
Micro businesses and sole traders who wish to apply for the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment can make an appointment with the Business Victoria Concierge Service on 13 22 15.
OUR ADVOCACY AT AT STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL
Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine continues to advocate along with all Regional Tourism Boards across the state and Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) for a national solution of sustained wage subsidy support in addition to current business support measures, designed and funded jointly by the Commonwealth and State/Territory Governments. You can read the full media release VTIC distributed today here, which clearly outlines the position we continue to push for in the wake of ongoing disruptions and uncertainty that we continue to experience.
In Victoria, we are losing $1.34 billion per month from the loss of domestic tourism spend alone. Worse yet, to the end of June 2021, it’s estimated that we’ve lost 156,000 direct jobs from our sector.
We realise that these disruptions are part of our world until we can escalate the vaccination rates to hit the 70-80% threshold targets agreed by National Cabinet. All Governments have acknowledged that Delta has changed everything we thought we knew about COVID, and we now need to see a national response of business support to include wage subsidy support similar to JobKeeper in 2020.
We are incredibly sorry that our region and tourism industry is once again facing such difficult and uncertain times. Please reach out for support, financial and personal, when you need it.
For specific clarification on any of the requirements, the Business Victoria hotline is available on
13 22 15.
Or if you’d like to chat to our team, just shoot us an email or call on 03 5223 2588.
Take care,
