There is assistance available to help Victorian hospitality businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) business restrictions.
CBD Small Hospitality Grant
The CBD Small Hospitality Grants were introduced to help small and medium businesses in Melbourne’s CBD facing significant and sustained impacts to their trading.
This makes grants of $5000 or $15,000 available to eligible small and medium-sized food service hospitality businesses.
Eligible CBD hospitality businesses will be provided with an additional one-off $5,000 grant (for businesses with a food service seating capacity of 11 to 100 seats) or $15,000 grant (for businesses with a food service seating capacity of 101 or more seats) to support the continued operation of the business.
Hospitality Business Grant Program
The Victorian Government has launched this $30 million fund specifically for the hardest hit hospitality businesses.
The Hospitality Business Grant Program provides $25,000 grants to eligible businesses that have a payroll of $3-10 million, plus an additional $5,000 for each additional premises, capped at $20,000; and a further $20,000 for those with premises located in the Melbourne CBD.
Night-time Economy Business Support Initiative
Pubs, clubs and restaurants can benefit from the Victorian Government’s Night-time Economy Business Support Initiative, which will provide commercial rental relief for licensed businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) who aren't covered by the Commercial Tenancies Relief Scheme.
The support is available to licensed venues across Victoria with an annual turnover of more than $50 million that operate as part of a group.
This initiative provides eligible businesses with:
- Reimbursement of up to $20,000 per business group for expenses incurred in obtaining specialist business and tenancy advice since 29 March 2020
- The initiative will also provide access to free mediation services to help eligible tenant businesses reach agreements with their landlords on rent relief during the pandemic.
- Relief for commercial rent hardship of up to $150,000 per business group where it can be shown that the business has sought to negotiate in good faith with the landlord with no result.
