COVID-19 Business Support Program

COVID-19 Business Support Program

Published on 01 May 2020

The City has implemented a Business Support Program which provides “quick response” grants to City of Busselton businesses impacted by restrictions put in place to curb COVID-19 infection.

 Applications for the Business Support Program are open until 30 June 2020.

The grants are focused on business sustainability as opposed to business growth, with two grant programs on offer:

Small Business Support Grants of up to $5,000 per applicant as a one-off grant. The total pool of grant funds available is $75,000. This program will fund initiatives such as:

Website design, development including E-commerce platforms Digital marketing and promotion Advertising and marketing campaigns directly in response to COVID-19 (eg: “open for business” advertising) Business strategy creation for taking your business to an online platform and/or supporting business partnerships solutions.

Economic and / or Community Development Support Grants are available to businesses, industry associations, not-for–profit and community support organisations to help them adapt where possible to a different operating environment. These grants are for projects up to a value of $25,000 per applicant and a total grant pool of $85,000 is available.

City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said that Council is very aware of the situation many local business and community groups find themselves in as a result of the pandemic.

“We have introduced an Interim Hardship Policy to support residents and businesses particularly around the areas of rates, commercial leases (of City owned properties), procurement, building and planning applications, community and economic development initiatives.These additional grants will further support local business to get back up and running and help people to get back to work. We’re fortunate that we are in a strong enough financial position to be able to offer these grants and I encourage local businesses and community groups to investigate support mechanisms on offer at all level of Government.”

The City of Busselton has also launched a dedicated Supporting Local Businesses and Economic Recovery Page on its website which includes up-to-date information on support and incentive initiatives instigated by Federal, State and Local Government in response to COVID-19.  Visit www.busselton.wa.gov.au/Developing-Busselton/Economic-and-Business-Development/COVID-19-Supporting-Local-Businesses-and-Economic-Recovery  for more information.

The Objectives outlined in this media release are aligned to Key Goal Area 4 in the City of Busselton’s Strategic Community Plan (Review 2019):  Our economy is diverse, robust and prosperous. 

Media enquiries can be directed to the City’s Public Relations Coordinator, Meredith Dixon on 97810446 or [email protected]