Business Chambers and Trader Groups will benefit from funding awarded through the Andrews Labor Government’s Grants for Business Chambers and Trader Groups program.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said the funding will help to provide critical advice, connections and resources to businesses in the south west to support their members’ transition to COVID Normal.
The program has provided $4.15 million in support through grants of $10,000, $20,000 or $50,000 to business chambers and trader groups across Victoria to support their local business community’s recovery and restart.
Grant recipients will use the funding for business activation initiatives like facilitating members’ adaptation to COVID Normal, ‘buy local’ campaigns and improving access to programs and services focused on resilience and recovery.
A number of Western Victoria organisations were among 182 that have so far received grant funding through the initiative:
Committee for Portland – $50,000
Otway Harvest Trail – $20,000
Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce – $10,000
Lorne Business and Tourism Association – $10,000
Port Fairy Tourist Association – $10,000
Bannockburn Chamber of Commerce – $10,000
Airey’s Inlet Tourism & Traders Association – $10,000
The Grants for Business Chambers and Trader Groups program is part of more than $7 billion in direct economic support provided by the Labor Government to Victorian businesses and workers to help them weather the storm of the pandemic.
Some $2.6 billion in funding has supported more than 130,000 small and medium businesses to date through the Business Support Fund while $87.5 million has been provided to support hospitality businesses prepare for COVID Normal.
For more information about the Grants for Business Chambers and Trader Groups program, go to business.vic.gov.au/businesschambers.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“These organisations are fantastic advocates for the business community in Western Victoria and this funding will help local business and communities recover and prepare for COVID Normal.”
“We’re committed to assisting businesses throughout Western Victoria recover from the coronavirus pandemic and these local groups will be a key part of this recovery.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small Business Jaala Pulford
“We appreciate the leading role Victorian business chambers and trader groups play In helping local businesses rebound and recover – that’s why it’s important to back that leadership with funding for local solutions to this global pandemic.”