Grants have been awarded to more than 80 local businesses, to help them adapt their operations or develop new services in the COVID-19 era.
A total of 85 small businesses will share in $411,463 worth of funding through the COVID-19 Business Recovery Grants program.
The grants were included in the Council's sixth COVID-19 Community and Economic Support Package, which was endorsed in September.
Mayor Stephanie Asher said targeted assistance for local businesses was a central plank of the Council's support packages, which have a total value of $16.9 million.
"While trading conditions have improved during this busy Christmas period, businesses still face a long road to recovery," Mayor Asher said.
"The grants will give operators the confidence to innovate and upgrade aspects of their business that will help them adapt and succeed in this new environment."
The grants, worth up to $10,000, aim to support small businesses to re-establish or adapt their operations in the COVID-19 economy by investing in:
- new technologies and digital platforms;
- professional development or capacity-building initiatives;
- alternative service models or business models; and
- local-business-to-local-business collaboration.
Applications for the program were open for three weeks in November.
The funding will be used for marketing and promotional campaigns, digital technology upgrades, energy efficiency upgrades, online training, eCommerce capability, audio equipment and website redesign.
A second round of the COVID-19 Business Recovery Grants will open early next year.
More information on the wide variety of funding opportunities available to groups, clubs and organisations can be viewed at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/grants
