Businesses who were hit hard by COVID and unable to trade during the lockdowns can now apply for a Council grant to help them to rebuild, recover and reactivate.
The Hobsons Bay Business Has Heart 2.0 grant program is offering $1,500 quick response grants to individual businesses or up to $5,000 or $10,000 to groups of local businesses looking to reactivate their local precinct with an innovative idea.
Mayor of Hobsons Bay Cr Peter Hemphill said the latest business grants were part of Council's fifth Community Support Package, which had seen a total of $10.8 million of financial aid injected into the city since the pandemic began.
"The quick response grants are really about supporting those businesses who have had little or no opportunity to operate during the lockdowns – our health and personal services, recreational, tourism and creative industry traders," said Cr Hemphill.
"It's about rebuilding and recovering and could be used on a range of services, such as website upgrades, branding, business mentoring or staff upskilling."
Following the successful business precinct reactivation and promotion program last year, Hobsons Bay businesses will again be invited to work together to promote and reactivate the business precincts attracting people to support the local economy.
"It was really inspiring to see our local traders band together to come up with some unique and innovative ways to encourage local trade and promote some of the wonderful businesses we have here in Hobsons Bay," said Cr Hemphill.
"Last time we saw cafes host live music in the street, a pop-up cinema in Williamstown and a campaign to showcase the many faces and places of Altona. It really evoked a sense of pride in our community and I look forward to seeing what great ideas come from this year's program."
Applications for the Hobsons Bay Business has Heart Grants 2.0 quick response grants can be submitted from 22 February and close on 30 April (or earlier if funds are exhausted). Applications for the business precinct grants close on 7 March.
