Support available to your Local Brunswick Business

I know the next six weeks are going to be tough for local Brunswick businesses, and there’s a lot of information to sift through about the options available to you.

My team and I put together a comprehensive list of local, state and federal government opportunities available to you if your business is struggling from the effects of the lockdown.

Moreland City Council assistance for businesses

• Business grants to develop online and e-services
• Boost for Business, dedicated hotline for the business community to speak one-on-one with Moreland Council. Call 03 8311 4131. More information.
• Retail Mentoring Program. Moreland City Council’s Retail Mentoring Program offers eligible businesses access to business experts who offer individualised support and training to help grow their online presence, learn new skills in digital management or develop a business strategy. More Information.
• MoreSpace. A program aimed at activating Moreland’s shopping strips and retail precincts by utilising vacant commercial shopfronts for temporary window displays. More information.
• Shopping Strip Renewal. Aims to help businesses in local strip shopping centres thrive. More Information.

Victorian Government assistance for businesses

Check for updates here.

Business Victoria hotline 13 22 15

Support and financial assistance finder
This finder will ask you a series of questions to help you find the assistance available to you based on your circumstances.

Free Clinics and Low-cost mentoring through Business Victoria
Book a 45min clinic or low-cost appointment with a mentor to help you work through or develop a recovery plan.

Postcode Local Lockdowns Business Support Program
$5,000 grant to help businesses through temporary, localised coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns. Information here.

Payroll Tax Refund
Businesses with annual taxable wages up to $3 million will have their payroll tax for the 2019-20 financial year waived. These businesses can also defer paying payroll tax for the first quarter of the 2020-21 financial year. More information.

Commercial tenancies relief scheme
To alleviate the financial hardship faced by tenants and landlords as a result of COVID-19. More information.

Rent relief for commercial tenants in government buildings
The Victorian Government will work directly with commercial tenants in government buildings who can apply for rent relief. Private landlords are also being encouraged to provide rent relief or holidays to help businesses.

Land tax relief
Landowners who have at least one non-residential property and total taxable landholdings below $1 million have the option of deferring their 2020 land tax payment until after 31 December 2020. Landlords who provide tenants impacted by COVID-19 with rent relief may be eligible for a 25 per cent reduction on the property’s 2020 land tax. More information.

Victorian Business Growth Fund for small and medium enterprises (VBGF)
The $250 million VBGF is now open to support long‑term growth opportunities for businesses and boost employment and economic development across the State.

Liquor licence fees waived
Renewable liquor licence fees for 2020 will be waived. Businesses who have already paid will be reimbursed. More information.

Creative Industries support, including live music.
Summary of Victorian Government recovery packages in creative industries can be found here.

Experience Economy Survival Package
Support to sporting clubs, tourist attractions, galleries and museums. More information.

Night-time Economy Business Support Initiative: support for pubs, clubs and restaurants
$40 million from the Business Support Fund will be made available to provide rent relief for licenced venues. Register your interest.

Tourism Accommodation Support Program
Direct financial support of $225 per booking per night to support tourism operators affected by temporary coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns. More information.

Federal Government assistance for businesses

JobKeeper Payment
Under the JobKeeper program, businesses will be able to access a wages subsidy to continue paying their employees: a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee from 30 March 2020, for a maximum of six months. More information.

Boosting cash flow for employers
Up to $100,000 will be available for eligible small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and not-for-profits (NFPs) that employ people, with a minimum payme­­­nt of $20,000. More information.

Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses
The Commonwealth Government is temporarily increasing the threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will tailor solutions for owners or directors of business that are currently struggling due to coronavirus. More information.

Supporting the flow of credit - Small/Medium Enterprise Guarantee Scheme
SMEs with a turnover of up to $50 million will be eligible to receive a guarantee of 50 per cent to SME lenders to support new short-term unsecured loans to be used for working capital. More information.

Increasing the instant asset write-off
The instant asset write-off (IAWO)threshold has been increased from $30,000 to $150,000 and expanded access to include businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020. More information.

Backing Business Investment (BBI)
BBI is a time-limited 15-month investment incentive (through to 30 June 2021) to support business investment and economic growth over the short term by accelerating depreciation deductions. More information.

Supporting apprentices and trainees
Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. More information.

Assistance for affected regions, communities and industries
The Commonwealth Government is providing $1 billion to support regions, communities and industries most significantly affected by the coronavirus outbreak (tourism, aviation and transport, agriculture and fisheries, education, the arts) More information.

Federal Arts Package
A range of grants and support programs available to the arts sector, detailed here.

Non-government support

Victorian chamber of commerce
Collection of resources about support and advice for businesses affected by COVID-19

Defer loan repayments
The banks have indicated they will defer loan repayments for small businesses affected by COVID-19 for six months. More information. 

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