It’s been a tough year, and the recent snap lockdowns in Victoria have only added to the burden for business owners. The good news is that the Victorian Government has just announced a new grants package for businesses that were directly impacted by the snap lockdowns. Read on to see if your business is eligible for support.
Support for businesses impacted by the snap lockdowns
The Victorian State government has recently announced a new grants package for businesses affected by the recent snap lockdowns in Victoria. Called the Circuit Breaker Action Business Support Package, it’s divided into three separate grants:
- Business Costs Assistance Program
- Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
- Victorian Accommodation Support Program
The Business Costs Assistance Program
The new Business Costs Assistance Program helps eligible businesses with costs incurred as a result of the circuit breaker action. For example, businesses may have incurred costs through loss of perishable food or produce and cancelled bookings. Eligible businesses with an annual payroll of up to $3 million can receive a one-off grant of $2,000, whether they have employees or not.
* Please note that businesses who receive the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund will not be eligible for this grant.
** Please also note that if you are a non-employing business, we will require proof of identity to process your application. Further details are provided in the application paperwork attached.
For more information or to apply for the Business Costs Assistance Program.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
Eligible businesses who previously received a grant through the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund will receive a further one-off payment of $3,000 to help with costs incurred as a result of the circuit breaker action. Businesses that receive this payment will not be eligible to receive a grant from the Business Costs Assistance Program.
You do not need to apply for this payment, you will be contacted by Business Victoria with further information.
Victorian Accommodation Support Program
The new Victorian Accommodation Support Program is an expansion of the Regional Tourism Accommodation Support Program and includes tourist accommodation premises in Greater Melbourne. This will support accommodation providers whose bookings were cancelled due to the circuit breaker action to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The $16.2 million Program supports tourism accommodation providers with a grant of one of two tiers of support for those with demonstrated booking cancellations between Friday 12 February and Wednesday 17 February 2021:
- Tier 1: Funding of $2,250 (ex GST) per Accommodation Premises experiencing 10 or fewer cancelled nights.
- Tier 2: Funding of $4,500 (ex GST) per Accommodation Premises with 11 or more cancelled nights.
*Please note this grant is not open for applications yet, but we will send further information if relevant to your business once we know more.
Register your interest for this grant directly with Business Victoria here.
Is your business eligible for support?
Eligibility for each grant will be based on your business’ ANZSIC industry code. If your business code is not on the list of eligible business industries, you are not eligible for any of these grants.
Your business is eligible to apply where you meet all the criteria below.
You must:
- operate a business located in Victoria
- be registered with WorkSafe on 30 June 2020, if you employ staff
- have an annual payroll of less than $3 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
- be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) as at 30 June 2020
- hold an Australia Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 30 June 2020
Dates close soon! Here’s how you can apply...
The closing date for applications is 16th March 2021.
If you wish to apply yourself, you can do so via the link below:
Apply for Circuit Breaker Action Business Support Package here.
If you are unsure if your business is eligible, please contact the office at info@leadgroup.com.au and we can assist you.
