- Minister for Small Business
Businesses in the Alpine, Towong and East Gippsland shires are set to get a boost in their bushfire recovery efforts, with the Andrews Labor Government to back local councils in offering business resilience programs.
Minister for Small Business Adem Somyurek today announced that each local council would be awarded $10,000 to run their program.
Mr Somyurek met with representatives from the Alpine and Towong shires and businesses in Bright and Tallangatta respectively, with discussions centred on the impact of the recent bushfires.
The grants, to be managed through Business Victoria's Local Events program, will assist each council to run events to help local enterprises plan for growth and share ideas.
Business Victoria's Local Events program is a Labor Government initiative launched in 2019 to bring seminars,
training workshops and events to local areas, in partnership with councils and business chambers.
All three shires are also eligible for the dedicated Bushfire Recovery round of the Government's Regional Events Fund announced earlier this month. Other Government initiatives to help small businesses in fire-affected areas get back on their feet include:
- Business & Sport for Bushfire Recovery, which has seen 215 organisations pledge to hold conferences and events in regional Victoria
- Immediate regional payroll tax relief so that regional employers only pay 25 per cent of the metropolitan rate, backdated to 1 July 2019
- Small business advisers stationed at recovery centres to give businesses the support and advice they need.
There are about 2,400 registered small businesses in the Alpine and Towong local government areas, and 4,300 in East Gippsland.
As stated by Minister for Small Business Adem Somyurek
"While the bushfire season is far from over, it is important to start working with small businesses on the process of recovery and rebuilding."
"These grants will help local councils and small business owners and operators to work together on planning their recovery."
As noted by Alpine Shire mayor Peter Roper
"The economic impact of losing visitors during what is traditionally a busy time of year has been devastating and this funding will help towards building resilience among businesses in the Alpine region."
As noted by Towong Shire mayor David Wortmann
"The meeting with Minister Somyurek was an important step in our region's recovery and we look forward to
working together with the Victorian Government on creating a sustainable future for Towong businesses."
