Thousands of businesses across Victoria have reason to breathe a little easier following the Victorian Government announcing that they will provide an additional $3 billion in support for small business.
Victoria’s hospitality businesses are the bedrock of our economy, but right now, many are going through a tough time. To support our bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs, hotels and reception centres, the Government will establish a $251 million dedicated Licenced Venue Fund, with grants of between $10,000 and $30,000 for licenced venues of all shapes and sizes. The Government is also providing further relief by waiving liquor licence fees for 2021.
There is also a $15.7 million export recovery package and funding for small businesses to access digital programs to help them adapt to online operations under what ‘COVID normal’ will look like.
Trips to Victoria’s ski fields haven’t been possible for thousands of families this year, so the government will give businesses in our alpine resorts the support they need with grants of up to $20,000 to help cover their resort fees, saving them a combined $4.3 million.
Exports are vital to Victoria’s economy, contributing 12 percent to Victoria’s GDP and 330,000 Victorian jobs. A $15.7 million export recovery package will address logistics and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, and establish new export channels. Businesses will be connected to international markets through virtual trade missions as well as assistance to adapt their export strategies to respond to the rapidly changing global market.
“For our state to recover, we need our businesses to recover too. As we take our first safe and steady steps towards COVID normal, this support will help make sure we get through this together,” said the Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews.
“We’ll continue meeting with and listening to businesses, so we can do everything we can to support them and their workers.”
