In just seven days, our $750,000 Revitalising Local Hospitality Venues Grant Program is fully subscribed and has successfully concluded.
The grant program provides funding of $5,000 to eligible hospitality businesses to help deliver projects or purchase equipment that will build capacity, continue to support the COVID-19 recovery, or assist to improve productivity.
It might be that a venue needs a freshen up, an upgrade to audio equipment to improve the experience of their patrons, or they might be looking to create a new avenue of entertainment to bring in greater crowds.
The hospitality industry contributed more than $720 million to the Tasmanian economy last year and we are confident that the investment it makes to the State will continue to grow.
We're helping that growth with this new grant program, as it will inject much needed funds into the sector and allow business owners to prepare for the busy summer season ahead.
The hospitality sector is the backbone of our tourism industry and our local way of life, and the Tasmanian Liberal Government has always been a strong supporter of our operators and their venues.
The Department of State Growth has approved 140 grants to hospitality businesses around the state, and will have the remaining ten processed by Friday.
These recipients have either already received their grant or will have by the end of the week.
As a Government we've listened to the industry, established a tailored grants program, and are rolling out support to fantastic Tasmanian venues in the space of a week.
I look forward to following up with some of the grant recipients in the months to come.
