Extra relief for businesses in the Yarra Ranges is on the way, after the State Government announced an additional $290 million support package on Monday.
The package includes support for the hospitality industry, sole traders and reactivating the Melbourne CBD.
The Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package will provide $87.5 million to councils and businesses outside of the CBD to create safer and more practical outdoor dining areas ahead of summer.
As part of this package, hospitality businesses can apply for grants up to $5,000 to help pay for items that will help them transition to a bigger and safer outdoor dining space, such as umbrellas, outdoor furniture, screens and equipment.
They will also receive training, advertising and other supports to assist with the process.
Grants are available to the following type of businesses:
- Licensed and unlicensed cafes
- Restaurants
- Takeaway food businesses
- Pubs, taverns, bars and clubs.
Yarra Ranges Council will also be eligible to receive up to $500,000 to support the above, in areas such as:
- Implementing quicker permit, enforcement and monitoring processes
- Reducing or waiving permit fees
- Investing in lighting and streetscape infrastructure.
A $100 million Sole Trader Support Fund has also been announced. Grants of up to $3,000 will be made available to those working in industries that will continue to be heavily impacted by the lockdown restrictions detailed under the second step of the roadmap.
These industries include:
- Film production
- Creative studios
- Outdoor entertainment
- Private museums and galleries
- Gym owners
To be eligible, sole traders must be a tenant or licensee in a commercial premises or location.
Yarra Ranges Council will continue to keep the business community informed of further updates and information on how businesses can apply when they are announced.
Yarra Ranges businesses who would like to be kept in the loop for when, and how, they can access these packages can sign up to our Expressions of Interest form here.
For more info, please visit https://www.business.vic.gov.au.
