We are anticipating there will be a lot of interest in this, so act now!

The Business Support Fund was established to support small businesses in the hardest-hit sectors from the impacts of COVID-19, so a list of categories was set to target these sectors. However, the Victorian Government has recently announced that the criteria will be expanded to include businesses with a wages bill less than the payroll tax threshold of $650,000 that are participating in the Commonwealth Government’s JobKeeper program, regardless of the sector they operate in. The original eligibility requirements still apply where applicable and eligibility for the fund will not be expanded to include sole traders, who are covered by JobKeeper.

Businesses who applied for Business Support Fund payments but were initially not eligible based on their sector classification will be contacted by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions and do not have to submit a new application.

Businesses that have not previously applied for a grant due to their sector classification are encouraged to make an application for a grant when applications for the expanded group open in coming days.

• Applications for the current program can be made via the Business Victoria website.
• Application for the expanded program is now open (since 12th May 2020).
• Applications will close on Monday, 1 June 2020.

For further information about the Business Support Fund, click here.