‘Melbourne Money’ comes to Moorabool

By Lachlan Ellis

A stimulus package from the State Government is set to now benefit Moorabool customers and businesses alike after a tough two years, with discounts and grants up for grabs.

The Business Stimulus Package will inject $200 million into measures aimed at helping businesses increase revenue and recover from the pandemic, including reimbursement for customers’ dining and entertainment costs, and grants to help businesses modernise.

President of the Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce, Michael Ryan, said there was still some hesitance among many people to go out to eat or attend events, but these incentives would help.

“There is no doubt there is a hesitancy amongst a certain demographic, and I’m part of that demographic – we normally are spontaneous and make decisions to go out spontaneously, but COVID has made us reluctant. I think this may help overcome that,” Mr Ryan told the Moorabool News.

“It’s a good incentive, especially from Monday to Thursday when perhaps it’s not as busy, and the risk of catching the virus might be less anyway.”

On the $1,200 rebates for modernising business operations, Mr Ryan said he thought it was great.

“It’s not the way of the future, it’s the way of the present. Some people think it’s too hard and don’t bother, but if they can get some assistance and get more modern systems up and running, I think it’s great,” he said.

“Customers are expecting it, especially the younger generations. Businessed that aren’t digitised will struggle…people will say ‘I want to order online, I want to pay online, I want to do everything online or use my phone’…so I think it’s a really positive initiative.”

The famous ‘Melbourne Money’ initiative was first launched by Melbourne City Council in June last year, allowing diners to claim 20 per cent off their dining bills from venues within the City of Melbourne.

Many regional Victorian businesses have since called for an equivalent program, and the State Government is finally delivering.

The $30 million ‘Statewide Dining Vouchers’ program is set to launch on 29 March, reimbursing 25 per cent of dining costs in Local Government Areas outside the Melbourne CBD from Monday – Thursday, between $40 and $500.

Also scheduled for a 29 March launch is the “Entertainment Voucher Scheme’, which will offer discounts for entertainment costs such as cinema tickets, live music, and exhibitions.

Another component of the package is the ‘Small Business Digital Adaptation Program’, which will offer $1,200 rebates to businesses for upgrades such as websites, stock management tools, and online menus and ordering systems.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-03-22/14

in the 22 March 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.