A $73.5 million initial support package from the state government has been implemented to support primary producers and small businesses across the state devastated by recent floods.
The package will deliver grants to help farmers and business owners clean up their properties, while business mentoring, concessional loans and transport subsidies are there to aid businesses to get back on their feet.
The $19.5-million Primary Producer Flood Relief Program will deliver a one-off $10,000 payment – administered by Rural Finance – to primary producers directly affected by the floods to help them clean up, re-establish their properties, and get their businesses up and running again.
Primary producers whose properties have been directly hit are also eligible for concessional loans of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets and meet general expenses incurred while the clean-up is underway.
Flood-affected primary producers can also claim as much as 50 per cent of transport costs to $15,000 for the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water and moving stock to agistment, sale or slaughter.
Small business owners whose livelihoods have been affected by the floods will also be supported through the $54 million Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program.
Directly impacted small businesses will be eligible for a one-off payment of $5000 to support clean-up, safety inspections, repairs, the hiring of equipment and the purchase of stock that businesses need to get back in business as quickly as possible.
The program will also support a dedicated Business Relief Service – with dedicated mentors to guide business owners through the available Commonwealth, state and local supports, manage insurance and landlord issues and build a strong recovery strategy. Applications for both grant programs are open, with applicants for the agriculture grants encouraged to visit the Agriculture Victoria website.
For small business grants, phone the Business Victoria hotline on 132 215.
