MILDURA Rural City Council is calling for local businesses impacted by COVID-19 to apply for a share of $800,000 in recovery funding announced on Thursday.
Eligible businesses can apply for up to $2000 credit on their council rates, or a business grant of up to $5000.
Mildura Regional Development (MRD) chief executive Brett Millington said businesses could use the funds to offset some of their costs or invest in marketing to promote and grow their business.
It comes as 50 cent of local business owners surveyed by council in November reported a drop in revenue due to COVID-19, while 28 per cent said their employment had been impacted and 38 per cent of business owners raised mental health concerns.
MRD estimated employment in the region dropped 1.7 per cent by December 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic period, with retail and hospitality most heavily impacted.
Mayor Jason Modica said supporting local businesses to bounce-back, adapt and evolve was crucial to the region’s ongoing COVID-19 recovery plan.
“This funding is designed to assist businesses impacted by the pandemic and to boost local spending,” Cr Modica said.
“A healthy business sector has huge flow-on effects for the wider community.”
Cr Modica encouraged all local Business Differential Council rate payers to consider applying for funding.
As part of the eligibility criteria applicants must be Mildura Council Business Differential Ratepayers, have a current ABN and demonstrate that their business was financially impacted by COVID-19 during the July to September 2020 quarter compared to the same time in 2018-19.
Applications must be made online via Council’s website and will close on Friday 5 March 2021.
