Tara Murray
Brimbank council is seeking further financial support from the state government to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mayor Ranka Rasic raised a notice of motion to ask the state government government to allocate $300,000 in funding to help with the council’s ongoing program of economic recovery through the Brimbank COVID business recovery grants.
Councillor Rasic said as a small business owner herself, she knows how hard it has been for small businesses in Brimbank.
She said the state and federal governments had provided considerable support, but more was needed.
“Brimbank businesses have suffered significant losses through the COVID-19 pandemic,”she said at the council meeting.
“In a recent survey more than 70 per cent of business respondents highlighted revenue losses contributed to by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There is a significant need for the government to provide continuing support to small businesses to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to encourage them to develop their business and adapt to digital technology.
“[The] economic impact of COVID-19 will extend beyond 2020 and [20]21. Council seeks for the state government to continue to support… The business grants program for another 12 months to further support ongoing recovery of business.”
Cr Rasic said the extra funding would help deliver economic and social recovery and help more local residents gain or stay in employment.
Cr Trung Luu said he supported the motion, but had been hoping that the council would seek more than $300,000 for the program.
“No doubt grants and support has been a great help, but moving forward we need assistance.”
The council has run the grants program the last two years, with a total of $300,000 available in the lastet round.
Grants have been available for start-up micro businesses to assist with fees, registrations and equipment along with small business support grants and small business booster grants.
Last year more than 120 grants were awarded.
