Victoria's Roadmap to reopening
Brimbank Commercial and Industrial Rate Relief
Brimbank Business Recovery Grants Program
Business Victoria: Hospitality Grants Program
Business Victoria: Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund
Click for Vic Campaign
VCCI: Business Recovery and Resilience Mentoring

Stage 4 business and industry restrictions remain in place in metropolitan Melbourne until Sunday 13 September.

The Victorian Government has announced the Coronavirus (COVID-19) reopening roadmaps for metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria, commencing Monday 14 September 2020. Reopening will be a four step process for the easing of restrictions.

Information sheet: Roadmap - How we live in Melbourne
Information sheet: Roadmap - How we work in Melbourne

For more detailed information click here

Councilâs Financial Hardship Policy has now been expanded to allow commercial and industrial property owners to apply for a 15% waiver of Council rates.

If approved, a waiver of 15% will apply to the first three installments of the 2020/21 municipal rates.

To qualify for consideration the following criteria qualifiers must be met:

Applications must be made in writing
Applications must include evidence to support all claims
Property must be classified in the Commercial/Residential Differential Rate category
The business operating within the occupancy must have an annual business turnover of less than $10m for the 2019/2020 financial year

The business operating within the occupancy must either:

Be eligible for the JobKeeper Program; or
Demonstrate a decrease in turnover of 30% or more.

For more information click here

COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak is causing economic disruption in many sectors including retail, tourism, hospitality, education, property, manufacturing and supply chains.

Council has established a $300,000 Brimbank Business Recovery Grants Program (Business Grants Program) to support local start-up and small businesses in adapting and responding to COVID-19 and strengthening their business as part of the Brimbank City Councilâs COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy â Economic Development Response.

Grants Categories:

Two streams of funding are now available to support local Small Businesses:

Start Up Microgrants (up to $2,000) - Fully Subscribed
Small Business Support (up to $10,000)
Small business Booster Grant (up to $10,000)

Business Grants Program Flyer - English

Business Grants Program Flyer - Vietnamese

For more information about what can be funded under each stream click here

Businesses may be eligible for a one-off $25,000 grant under the Hospitality Business Grant Program to pay for business costs required for the continued operation of the business. This includes restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, clubs, reception centres, coffee and dessert outlets and take away food venues.

Where an eligible business operates more than one premises, the business may qualify for a further grant of $5,000 for each additional premise in Victoria capped at a total of $20,000 (excluding GST).

For more information and to apply click here.

The Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund has been created in recognition of small, private landlords who may not have the capacity to provide rent reductions to their tenants under the requirements of the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme (CTRS).

The Victorian Government is offering grants of up to $3,000 per tenancy to eligible small private, individual and joint-owner landlords, who are facing financial hardship after reducing rent for their tenants under CTRS requirements.

For CTRS information click here

For information on other supports available to landlords, including additional land tax relief, please visit the State Revenue Office Land Tax Relief website

Click for Vic encourages Victorians to get behind the tourism industry by buying local products online.

The campaign aims to connect consumers with Victorian businesses offering at-home, virtual or delivered to your door experiences and to help keep businesses operating during this unprecedented time in our history.

The Click for Vic campaign is supported through advertising across television, digital and print, and further supported through Visit Victoria's public relations, partnerships and owned social media channels.

It showcases a selection of dine at home options from cafes, bars and restaurants, Victorian produce straight to your door, a range of drink at home delights, and gifts for friends and family. Download the industry toolkit to see how your business can get involved.

Click for Vic is all about encouraging consumers to support Victorian businesses and to buy online while travel restrictions remain in place.

For more information click here

The Victorian Government is partnering with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to deliver a business mentoring program to help small businesses navigate the economic challenges posed by restrictions to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Through this program, eligible business owners can receive up to four 2-hour mentoring sessions with an experienced professional who will help them make informed decisions about the future of their business.

The program offers tailored guidance on:

Business recovery - to strengthen business recovery (cost reduction, debt and cashflow management)
Market transformation - to understand how coronavirus (COVID-19) has triggered or accelerated market changes
Digital literacy and engagement - to help businesses reach new customers and markets
Market and supply chain diversification - to reduce exposure to supply chain risks
Reskilling and retraining - to help businesses upskill their existing workforce

For more information and to apply, click here

A range of financial support is available from the Australian and Victorian governments to help your business through coronavirus (COVID-19). The Business Victoria Financial Support page will help you find programs and other support options available to you and your business.

For more information click here

The Brimbank COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy includes the development of a business website under the Economic Development Response (Business Support and Assistance).

Stage 1 of the website is now live and provides business information and links about COVID-19, as well as information about Councilâs Business Support and Assistance; Events and Programs; and Investment and Resources.

Go to www.brimbankbusinesslink.com.au to view the website.

Like us on the Brimbank Business Link facebook page for regular updates.

Have you responded to the Business Impact Survey?

We'd really like to hear from you to gain an understanding of how COVID-19 (coronavirus) is impacting your business. Your input will be used to inform action and advocacy for assistance, and inform government on short and long-term recovery priorities. This survey is mainly multiple choice and will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Complete the Business Impact Survey here

How to Rank Higher in Google Maps - Register here
Brimbank Business Grants Information Session - Register here
7 Steps to Digital Marketing Strategy - Register here
Winning Government Business - Register here
Selfcare: You can't pour from an empty cup - Register here
Social Media Masterclass - Register here
Using LinkedIn and your Personal Brand to win work - Register here
Storeytelling for Influence - Register here
Pitch Perfect! - Register here
Strategies for Getting Customers Back - Register here
Legal Essentials for Start-ups and Small Business - Register here
Making COVID-19 Count - What have we learnt - Register here

Small Business Victoria
A series of webinars to improve business success - for further information click here

Melbourne's North Food Group
Webinar - Economic Recovery: The challenges and opportunities for businesses - register here

Upskill My Business (Business Victoria)
Develop your business skills and strenghthen your business - for further information click here

ATO: Support for Small Business Webinar
A wide range of interactive online webinar seminars presented by experienced tax officers, where you can ask questions to help you apply the information to your situation - register here

Australian Small Business Advisory Servies (ASBAS)
ASBAS is delivering FREE online workshops and Business Resilience programs for Victorian businesses:

Online Workshops - Register here
Business Resilience Program - Register here
Business Resilience Mentoring - Register here
Business Resilience Workshops - Register here

Business Mentoring

Council's partnership with the Small Business Mentoring Service (SBMS) and ION Group provides businesses with vouchers to access to mentoring sessions. Sessions are provided either online via Skype/Zoom or by telephone.

SBMS mentoring sessions are designed to provide operational support and identify resources for businesses in these extreme times. There are different mentoring options available, and they can be provided in languages other than English.

ION Group provides a strategic âwhole of businessâ approach to their mentoring sessions. These sessions include an opportunity to review your situation, undertake planning and business strategy, and prepare adaptation strategies for re-opening, reinventing and rebuilding your business.

For more information and a discussion about your mentoring needs, contact the Economic Development Team ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au

Brimbank.Localised - itâs more than business to business â itâs business to people, people to business â itâs a business community â itâs letting people know where there is local expertise, local services and local opportunity.

There is no cost to sign up to Brimbank.Localised, and by signing up you will receive ongoing promotion and exposure to other Brimbank businesses, access to local supply chains and local business networks.

Brimbank.Localised is ready for Brimbank businesses to upload their profile, business information, articles and blogs - you'll just need a photo, logo, website and business details to create your profile account and get started.

Guide to getting started

Brimbank.Localised Getting Started guide (English)
Brimbank.Localised Getting Started guide (Vietnamese)

Find out more about Brimbank.Localised and upload your business profile here

The Think. Shop. Buy Local Alpaca map aims to make it even easier for locals to find out who is open, and to support and stay connected to their local business community.

All businesses in Brimbank are welcome to have their business listed on the Think. Shop. Buy Local map - and if you're offering take-away, delivery, online shopping, online fitness classes or virtual services during COVID-19 it's even more important to let locals know.

Find out more about the Think. Shop. Buy Local alpaca map

Download the Think. Shop. Buy Local flyer in Vietnamese

Explore the Think. Shop. Buy Local map

If youâd like to have your business listed, contact the Economic Development Team.

A special edition of LINK has been produced which focuses on COVID-19 business support and assistance from Council and Government. There is also information about Brimbank.Localised, the Brimbank Think. Shop. Buy Local alpaca map and the 2020 Business Development Program.

Download a copy of LINK here
or go to www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/business-and-tourism

Are you a local business looking for new staff and want to employ local?

There's no cost to join the Joblink community or to post your employment opportunities. Youâll also receive promotion for your business on the JobLink Facebook Page.

Check out Brimbank Joblink for more information and be sure to LIKE us on Facebook.

For further information about this newsletter please contact the Economic Development Unit on 9249 4000 or email ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au

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