Ongoing support vital for businesses

GEELONG Chamber of Commerce chief Ben Flynn has congratulated the community on its support of businesses during the past 18 months and urged people to keep buying takeaway food and shopping local as lockdown extends into
next week.
Mr Flynn said state government payments for businesses and federal payments were vital but wouldn’t make up for losses.
“The community has been amazing with getting takeaway and shopping local and we need to keep continuing to do that because these payments aren’t enough,” he said, praising innovative businesses that had been able to change their businesses to take-away or online.
“It’s the combination of state and federal support that’s really valuable for businesses but it doesn’t go far enough.
“These businesses have had significant hits of thousands and thousands of dollars beyond the support they’ve received.
“And there are industries that haven’t been able to adapt, like hospitality, arts and tourism that continues to be hard hit.
“But hopefully these payments will keep the cash flow ticking over while we’re in lockdown.”
The state government announced last week that it would provide new cash grants for businesses affected by the lockdown to assist with recovery on the other side of the COVID-19 restrictions.
Up to 90,000 businesses that have and will receive payments through the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund and Business Costs Assistance Program relating to the May-June lockdown will receive the state’s support payments.
The federal government will fund income support payments for anyone who lives or works in declared COVID-19 hotspots, which include the City of Greater Geelong, the Borough of Queenscliffe and the Surf Coast Shire.