Melbourne passes $10m stimulus package aimed at small business

Chloe Booker

March 18, 2020

The Age

Melbourne City Council has passed a $10 million COVID-19 stimulus package, which includes grants for small businesses, the suspension of street trading fees, rent reductions and ramped up cleaning measures.

The council also flagged it would by the end of the month reduce rates for people experiencing hardship in a special meeting on Tuesday night to support businesses, as Melburnians desert the city due to coronavirus fears.

The package includes:

• $500,000 in grants to support businesses to develop e-commerce and online services
• Up to $1 million for training and support at businesses
• A virtual business support summit at Melbourne Town Hall
• Suspending fees for Food Act registrations and street trading and outdoor dining permits for three months
• Halving rent for eligible tenants in council-owned buildings for three months
• Deploying casual and part-time cleaners
• Establishing a support service to provide advice to struggling businesses

The summit will be held in partnership with the Victorian government, the Department of Health and Human Services, the federal government, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Deputy lord mayor Arron Wood said cash flow would be a pressing issue for small businesses in the near future.

“This is the first package of support and we will be doing more over the coming weeks to assist our local business community,” he said.

Lord mayor Sally Capp said businesses would be affected by the state-wide emergency measures announced on Monday, including social distancing.

“The economic impacts from this virus will be significant and we’re encouraging everybody to support local businesses wherever they can,” she said.

Cr Capp said the council would work with Queen Victoria Market’s management to provide support to traders, including recommending rent reductions.

“Queen Victoria Market is the lifeblood of our city and we’re doing everything we can to support traders affected by the downturn,” she said.

“We’re doing everything we can to help businesses stay open and keep Melburnians in jobs.”