Transition to Recovery
Council has been working on bushfire recovery for a few months, and many communities are also well on their way to starting their own work on recovery. However, there is an official transition from emergency response and relief to recovery.
This official process is nearly complete. Over the last three weeks council, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) and Victoria Police have been stepping through the formal transition of responsibility from the Incident Control Centres back to council and BRV to coordinate recovery activities. This has occurred progressively for different parts of the fire footprint with the last of the areas signed off by council this week.
A key step in this process is the handing back of responsibility for council roads. During an incident the Incident Controller is in control of the roads in the fire footprint. As they are cleared and checked for immediate hazards, such as hazardous trees, they are then handed back to council. This week the last of the council roads were signed back to council. With the transition to recovery, council and BRV jointly coordinate the recovery activities.
Council Introduces a New Form Buddy Initiative
In response to the economic impact caused from the recent Bushfire and the current COVID-19 pandemic, Council is stepping up to support East Gippsland Business operators with the introduction of the 'Form Buddy' initiative.
The initiative will assist business operators in navigating the myriad of funding and support schemes available, along with assisting business operators with completing application documentation.
To access some friendly local assistance, simply contact Council’s Recovery Centre on 5153 9500, then dial 1 to register, one of our Business Form Buddy's will contact you to discuss available assistance.
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Business Grants & Assistance
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Business and Tourism Association Funding
As part of the Federal Government's $1M Rapid Bushfire Relief funding for East Gippsland, $20K has been distributed to each of East Gippsland's Business and Tourism Association's along with Chambers of Commerce, this funding will assist BTA's to implement a range of locally tailored initiatives to assist their business community’s recovery.
COVID-19 Business Support
Victorian Government
A $500 million Business Support Fund to assist small and medium-sized businesses in sectors most impacted by COVID-19, including hospitality, retail and tourism.
- Payroll tax refunds for the 2019-20 financial year for eligible small and medium-sized businesses with payroll of less than $3 million.
- Waiving of liquor licensing fees for 2020 for affected venues and small businesses.
- A new Working for Victoria Fund will help employees who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 to access new job opportunities
For more information call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 or visit business.vic.gov.au
Federal Government support:
Economic Response Package in response to COVID-19 – key initiatives:
- Payments for eligible small and medium-sized businesses that employ people, to help businesses keep operating, pay rent, bills and retain staff. (This expands on the initial Boosting Cash Flow for Employers measure announced on 12 March 2020);
- Apprentice and trainee wage subsidy;
- Increasing the instant asset write-off threshold;
- Deductions on eligible asset installation;
- Access to loans and credit;
- Temporary early release of superannuation;
- Improved access to Centrelink income support payments;
Jobkeeper Payment
Under the Jobkeeper Payment, businesses significantly impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak will be able to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees. This assistance will help businesses to keep people in their jobs and re-start when the crisis is over.
For employees, this means they can keep their job and earn an income – even if their hours have been cut. The Jobkeeper payment is a temporary scheme open to businesses impacted by the Coronavirus.
The Jobkeeper Payment will also be available to the self-employed. The Government will provide $1,500 per fortnight per employee for up to 6 months.
See fact sheet for further information.
Small Business Bushfire Support Grants
The Federal Government's $10,000 Small Business Bushfire Support Grant assist's with the costs of maintaining businesses, including covering salaries and rents.
To be eligible, small businesses (including primary producers) in East Gippsland must have experienced a 40 per cent decline in revenue over a three-month period, compared to the previous year, as a result of the 2019-20 Victorian Bushfires.
To apply, visit www.ruralfinance.com.au, visit www.brv.vic.gov.au or call Bushfire Recovery Victoria on 1800 560 760.
East Gippsland Shire's Form Buddy program can also assist you for support with applying for funding, for details contact the East Gippsland Recovery Centre on 5153 9500 (dial 1) or visit eastgippsland.vic.gov.au
Australian Tax Office support for business: the ATO is providing relief from some tax obligations for businesses affected by COVID-19.
Other relevant non-government initiatives
Small businesses should contact their bank to apply for deferral if they have not already been contacted.
While Government generally doesn’t offer funding to start a business, there may be other forms of support available, search for business grants at the Australian Government GrantConnect and AusIndustry website, Business Victoria or Regional Development Victoria websites.
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Funding boost for women in business
Female founders of startups are the target of a new Australian Government initiative. The Boosting Female Founders program will provide early stage capital in the form of grants for startups with at least 50 per cent female ownership. Eligible founders, including those from regional areas, are encouraged to apply. Visit business.gov.au/BFF
Startup Gippsland
A collaborative project, Startup Gippsland brings together Bass Coast Shire, Baw Baw Shire, East Gippsland Shire, Latrobe City, South Gippsland Shire and Wellington Shire councils. It aims to support entrepreneurs to expand business ideas potentially to a national or international level.
Startup Gippsland has three programs to support startups at different stages:
A 12-week Incubator Program for early-stage startups running in each of the six Gippsland shires from 19 June to 25 September, with the Pitch Events happening throughout October. Applications are open until 12 April 2020.
- A 12-week Accelerator Program for later-stage startups from 23 January to 21 March 2021.
- An Open Program of one-off events for startups at all stages to learn business fundamentals like business modelling, pitching and exporting.
To find out more about Startup Gippsland and each of the programs, visit startupgippsland.com.au
Applications have opened for the Incubator program which is set to run from August to November. If you’d like to learn more about the program, what you can expect and how to put in a competitive application, head along to the online information sessions happening on April 20, May 4, May 21 and June 2.
For any further questions, reach out to the team at hello@startupgippsland.com.au or on (03) 5644 3321.
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Gippsland Comeback
The Victorian Government has postponed the Gippsland comeback event until later this year due to COVID-19.
Resilient Futures crisis helpline
As business leaders manage the complex impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, the Resilient Futures Network offers a free consultation and helpline. Callers can access confidential and objective advice on ph: (03) 7019 4207 or email the network: inquiry@resilientfutures.com
Victorian Small Business Commission rental advice
The Victorian Small Business Commission has developed new advice to help small business owners, landlords and agents dealing with situations where tenants have difficulty paying rent. Small Business Victoria now has a dedicated web page on COVID-19, which provides information about developing business continuity and recovery plans and other agencies that can help, such as the ATO and the Fair Work Ombudsman. Small business owners, landlords and agents can visit:
Dealing with COVID-19 (coronavirus) and responding to difficulty in paying rent
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Innovation in Tough Times
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Are you working or selling online, offering take-away food or products, doing some other kind of clever pivot to keep in business? We’d like to hear about how you’re rethinking what you do to innovate and keep local people employed.
Wilderness Coast Candles (based in Mallacoota) shared its experience which might inspire others. A small local business that usually sells at coastal markets, set up a website shopping cart in less than a day with help from Colin Dixon.
Watch the Wilderness Coast Candles story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_HuBy9AQc
Recovery relies on all of us thinking in new ways and planning ahead for a stronger economy into the future. We'd love to here how your doing this, let us know how you go and we’ll share other stories in upcoming e-newsletters.
For more information:
https://mallacoota2020.square.site/ or http://mallacoota2020.com.au/ https://wcoastcandles.square.site/
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Webinars
Work My Own Way this series of free webinars will assist business operators to effectively work from home, support your companies culture while working remotely, manage cashflow and stress, setup an online store and many more training modules.
Event Training Webinars
East Gippsland Shire Council is proud to deliver events training workshops aimed at event organisers for both commercially run events and those that are community driven (not-for-profit).
Sessions include Marketing and Growing Your Event, Managing Your Money: Budgets and Event grants, Risk, Safety and Emergency Event Management.
Our free, two-hour workshops will now be delivered on-line via Zoom. Links and workbooks will emailed to those that register here.
Register at Trybooking, see the flyer for more information, contact Councils Events Officer on 03 5153 9500 or email events@egipps.vic.gov.au.
Also available will be a day-long Event Management Masterclass for event organisers looking to extend their skills and grow their events to the next level.
To register for the Events Management Masterclass CLICK HERE
Sessions Times:
Between Wednesday 15 April 2020 1:00 PM and Wednesday 20 May 2020 1:00 PM
Looking to the Future for Regional Events
As a result of the impacts of the regions recent emergency events, many local event organisers are asking how can we plan for success after the 2020 bushfires and now the COVID-19 pandemic?
What can we put in place now so that you can run a successful event when the present situation ends? What does recovery look like?
In response, Council is seeking input from our business and community through our event survey to help provide us with an overview of how East Gippsland events have been affected, and importantly, to hear your ideas moving forward.
Open until Sunday 12 April, 2020, access the survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/KZHJWJH
We look forward to your feedback.
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