VICTORIAN Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford was in Mildura on Thursday to congratulate business owners “for their resilience and their efforts to rebound and grow” through the coronavirus pandemic.
Ms Pulford visited Two Black Sheep Cafe on Tenth Street, where owner Linda Beevers received $23,000 in State Government grants from the Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package and Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund.
“We did everything we could to stay open during lockdown, but we were struggling,” Ms Beevers said. “Without these grants, we don’t think the business would have continued to operate.”
Ms Pulford said is was “fantastic to see so many Mildura businesses standing tall and we’re proud to have stood with them over the past 12 months”.
“Working together means businesses have been able to weather a global storm, and that’s a great credit to them, their workers and the wider community,” she said.
Over the past year, Mildura businesses have received funding through a range of State Government initiatives.
According to a statement from Ms Pulford’s office, the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme brought nearly $1 million into the region’s economy from 590 travellers.
The Business Support Fund has provided more than 1400 grants totalling $11.5 million paid to businesses across Mildura Rural City, out of a state funding pool of $2.6 billion, and more than 50 Mildura businesses will receive the recent Business Cost Assistance Program grant of $2000.
