CUL-TI-VATE Your Business
Jobs Victoria Fund
Grants and Assistance for Business
JobKeeper Key Dates
Post JobKeeper Loans
Free Small Business Mentoring
Government Grants for Business
CATAPULT
ENJOY Local School Holiday Activities

Looking to grow your business idea?

Then CUL-TI-VATE is for you!

Designed for entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and small business owners, the program runs over nine weeks in a fast-paced mode that mirrors the speed needed to succeed in the real world. Applicants need to be available for a few hours each Wednesday from 28 April 2021.

Places are limited so Apply Now!

The Jobs Victoria Fund is providing $250 million in wage subsidies to assist Victorian businesses employ at least 10,000 people who are looking for work. As a business, you may be eligible for a subsidy of up to $20,000 to employ someone affected by the economic impacts of the pandemic.

The Jobs Victoria Fund is now open for applications. Further information including funding guidelines and eligibility is available here.

Please contact the Jobs Victoria Hotline on 1300 208 575 or info@jobs.vic.gov.au for further information.

There are a range of Government support programs and financial assistance currently available to help your business grow and succeed including:

Boosting Female Founders Initiative - Round 2
Assists female entrepreneurs to get access to finance and support to grow their startups.

Music for Victoria Fund $2k Grants
Provides live music venues with grants of $2,000 to pay bands or artists to perform.

Materials Recycling Infrastructure Funding
Provides support to increase the capacity and capability of resource recovery businesses to improve the quality of materials recovered.

AusIndustry Entrepreneurs Program â Business Growth Grant
Provides subsidies of up to 50% of the cost of specialist advice to assist with business improvement initiatives.

AusIndustry Research & Development Tax Incentive Program
Allows small and medium enterprises to access tax offsets for business research and development activities.

AusIndustry Accelerating Commercialisation Program
Assists entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, start-ups and small and medium enterprises to bring their new intellectual property to market.

Austrade Export Market Development Grant Program
Provides financial assistance to small and medium enterprises to enter and develop export markets.

The JobKeeper Payment scheme finished on 28 March 2021. Monthly business declarations for JobKeeper Fortnights in March need to be completed and lodged with the ATO by 14 April 2021 to receive final JobKeeper payments.

For more information click here

SME Recovery Loan Scheme

If your business received JobKeeper payments between 4 January 2021 and 28 March 2021 you may be eligible for continued assistance under the Federal Governmentâs Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme. To see if you are eligible click here.

Struggling with Business Recovery and Resilience Post 2020?

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry offers eight hours of professional mentoring for businesses effected by COVID-19 during 2020. To find out how you can access this free service for your business click here.

Looking for new ways to promote your business?

Join us online for the Brimbank Localised Business Meet-up.
Friday 9 April, 9.30am until 10.30am

The Brimbank Localised Business Meetup is a great way to connect with other local businesses and introduce yourself!

Register Now!

Catapult is an action-orientated 3 hour workshop designed for small business owners who are action takers and looking to set solid business foundations to grow their business.

The workshop will have 3 key focus areas:

Â· Business Performance

Â· Customer Experience

Â· Digital Marketing

Participants will walk away with 3 implementable plans to help effect real change.

Register Now!

Council has developed the Brimbank Activation Program to help Local Activity Centres recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Program includes a range of free musical performances and childrenâs activities during the School Holidays.

For a list of upcoming events and locations click here.

Council, in conjunction with local traders and landlords will host GlenGALA Day at Glengala Village in Sunshine West on 17 April as part of the 20 Minute Neighbourhood project.

A range of interactive activities and entertainment will take place including live music, a magician, giveaways and a competition.

Council will also be engaging with community about its plans for the next stage of Glengalaâs transformation.

More information visit www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/events or call 9249 4000.

This webinar is a detailed walk through the common tender processes and what all successful businesses have in common ... creating a business plan.

Register Now!

Learn new skills to build your business:

April
7th - Facebook for Business Simplified - Register here
13th - Establish your Business Values - Register here
21st - Tender Processes and Business Plan Guidance - Register here
23rd - CATAPULT - register here
29th - How to Rank Higher in Google Maps - Register here

CUL-TI-VATE Program - Applications are now open!

Develop your business skills and strengthen your business - for further information click here

Small Business Bus
27 April - Sunshine, outside Village Cinemas, Marketplace Shopping Centre

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

ATO: Support for Small Business Webinar
A series of free interactive online webinars presented by experienced tax specialists, where you can ask questions to help you apply the information to your situation - register here

Are you feeling distressed or anxious about your business?

The Partners in Wellbeing helpline offers free and confidential one-on-one access to experienced wellbeing, financial and mental health counsellors who understand exactly what youâre going through.

So if you want to improve your sense of wellbeing and develop coping strategies to get through this difficult time call the Partners in Wellbeing on 1300 375 330External link (opens in same window) from Monday to Friday 9amâ10pm, Saturday to Sunday 9amâ5pm.

For further information and translation services click here.

Make sure youâre adhering to the current COVID-19 restrictions

All businesses must have an active, up-to-date COVIDSafe Plan.
Keep accurate records and ensure your staff and visitors register their details for contact tracing.
All businesses must record contact details for anyone on their premises for 15 minutes or more, including staff, customers and suppliers.
Electronic record keeping is required for many venues to access the higher density limit of 1 person per 2sqm. The Victorian Government QR Code Service is easy to use and free.
Download and display signage to remind people of the need to check in, and other safety measures.
If you or your workers have even mild COVID-19 symptoms, please get tested.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au for more information or call Business Victoria on 13 22 15. If you need an interpreter, call the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline 1800 675 398 and press 0.

Business Mentoring

Book your free voucher for one-on-one expert business mentoring via video or telephone with one of our specialist partners.

SBMS mentoring sessions provide operational support and identify resources to help your business grow. They can provide advice in languages other than English.

ION Group provides a strategic âwhole of businessâ approach to review your situation, and help you 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

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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