Tuesday, 10 May 2022

Ministers statements: small business support

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (13:53): I am very pleased to update the house on yet another way that our government is supporting Victorian small businesses. The small business ventilation program is one of seven funded programs from the $200 million business stimulus package announced in February this year in response to the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and the omicron wave. It supports small businesses with commercial premises that are open to the public to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by providing funding for ventilation improvements. The program has two streams: a $500 rebate and a matched grants stream. It was launched on 1 April and is scheduled to close to applications on 24 June.

The $500 rebate stream is intended to enable businesses to undertake immediate action such as purchasing an air purifier or hiring a qualified tradesperson to undertake minor services to improve ventilation. To be eligible for the program the business must operate from a fixed Victorian address commercial premises that is physically open to the public for in-person purchases or use of the business’s products or services.

The matched grants stream provides matched funding for eligible projects and provides grants from $1000 to $5000. This stream enables public-facing small businesses that employ staff to invest in larger projects such as building works, engaging professional services or purchasing equipment to improve ventilation in areas accessible to customers. An eligible business can apply for a grant for each of its commercial premises. If an applicant has already purchased an eligible product, such as an air purifier, or undertaken eligible ventilation improvements, we thank them for that and they will be retrospectively covered back to 1 January this year.

I would encourage all members to put the link to these grants programs on their various social media and website pages to help spread the word so that we can help Victorian businesses to be stronger, more resilient and better ventilated for the wellbeing of all Victorians.