Council to launch $100,000 business grants program

Council to launch $100,000 business grants program

Published on 11 May 2020

Local businesses can soon apply for a share in Baw Baw Shire Council’s $100,000 Business Grant Program developed to support businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Applications will open on Friday 15 May 2020 via an online application form available at www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/BawBawBusinessGrants

Funding is available for projects and activities in four streams:

Funding Stream One: Online Support

Up to $5,000 for costs associated with online and e-commerce activities, including the purchase of hardware, software and services in any of the following areas:

Website design and development E-commerce platforms (selling online and receiving payments) Online content development (web pages, mobile apps, audio and visual media) Mentoring and training in online and e-commerce activities Funding Stream Two: Infrastructure and Equipment

Up to $5,000 for costs associated with temporary infrastructure used to continue to produce income throughout the impacts of COVID-19 including any of the following areas:

Equipment Physical alterations including temporary structures and barriers Business fittings, including retail wholesale and hospitality shop fittings Funding Stream Three: Marketing Support

Up to $2,000 for costs associated with marketing activities undertaken used to continue to produce income throughout the impacts of COVID-19 including any of the following areas:

Signage Digital marketing and promotion Printing and marketing activities Funding Stream Four: Employee Development

Up to $2,000 for costs associated with increasing and enhancing worker capability to better prepare return to business activities. Suitable professional activities can include, but are not limited to:

Online learning, webinars Attendance at training courses, seminars, workshops, forums or conferences Accredited training In-house courses delivered by an external provider or other training

Funding applies to projects and activities assumed after mandatory closures to businesses implemented in Victoria on 22 March 2020, and activities to commence within six months of this date.

Eligible businesses must be located within Baw Baw Shire and be directly impacted by mandatory closures of premises, mandatory changes to their operations or can demonstrate a 75 per cent reduction in income. Eligible businesses include accommodation, food and beverage services, administrative and support services, arts and recreation services, hair and beauty services, retail and real estate services.

Applications will close on Sunday 15 November 2020, unless all funds are dispensed prior.

Applications will be checked for eligibility and reviewed and assessed internally by relevant Council Officers. Given the urgent nature of support required, Council will treat all applications as a priority and expects the assessment process to move quickly.

This grants program was endorsed at the 22 April Council meeting as part of Council’s $440,000 stage-one community and business support package in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Cr Danny Goss

“As a Council we’re proud to do our bit to help local businesses in these challenging times. If you’re a local business planning a new project or activity to innovate your way of working, we encourage you to jump online and apply for one of the four available grants.”