Further financial assistance is available for small businesses and community organisations to help support the economy as the Geelong region re-opens.
As part of council’s COVID-19 economic and community support measures, a $500,000 Business Recovery Grants program will soon open to small businesses in Greater Geelong, with the aim of:
- supporting businesses that have been adversely impacted by restrictions
- helping businesses re-establish their operations
- enabling businesses to adapt to a post-COVID-19 economy
- supporting innovation and capacity building by encouraging businesses to invest in options such as new technologies, alternative service models and local-business-to-local-business collaboration
- providing planning application support for businesses wishing to relocate or expand locally.
Round one of the program will open on Monday 9 November and run until Monday 30 November, with grants of up to $10,000 available. A second round will open on Monday 18 January 2021.
Local businesses can access free professional grant writing assistance and expert help to develop their funding application through the Geelong Business Support program.
Community organisations are encouraged to apply for funding from round two of the COVID-19 Quick Response Community Grants, with $159,000 currently available.
This program supports eligible groups to activate community spaces and deliver new or existing projects, programs and activities that comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
The grants will remain open until all funds are allocated or until 31 March 2021.
Round one, which closed in August, saw 51 grants awarded a total of $90,505.
