More support available for VIC clubs via new grants
The following grants and concessions may be available to your club. Please read all the eligibility criteria before applying noting that some of the grants are only available to clubs with paid employees.
Business Support Fund – Round 3
Small businesses that have been highly impacted by shutdown restrictions can now apply for a grant from the third round of the Victorian Government’s Business Support Fund – grants of $10,000 to $20,000 are available. Grants can be used towards business costs such as rent, utilities and salaries, and activities to support business continuity planning, such as seeking financial and legal advice.
Eligibility:
- businesses who employ staff and are registered with WorkSafe Victoria
- be registered as operating in an industry sector that has an industry restriction level of Restricted, Heavily restricted or Closed and is not easing industry restriction levels between the First Step and Second Step of Victoria’s roadmap for reopening
- be a participant in the Federal Government’s JobKeeper Payment scheme
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 13 September 2020
- businesses with annual payrolls of up to $650K can apply for $10,000 – higher grants are for businesses with larger payrolls (up to $10M).
The program is open for applications now and will remain open for applications until the date the Business Support Fund 3 is exhausted or 23 November 2020, whichever is earlier.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
The Victorian Government is providing support for licensed pubs, clubs, hotels, bars, restaurants and reception centres to help them survive through ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
Eligibility:
- a licensed pub, club, hotel, bar, restaurant or reception centre under a general, full club or on-premises liquor licence issued by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
- have premises that serve patrons and holds a Class 2 or 3 Service Sector – Certificate of Registration under the Food Act 1984 (Vic) issued by a local council
- have a valid ABN or equivalent will need to be provided for the premises, as well as liquor licence and food Certificate of Registration
Note: businesses that are eligible for Licensed Hospitality Business Grant will not be eligible for third round of the Business Support Fund.
Eligible grant amounts based on area and patron capacity:
| Patron Capacity | Metropolitan Melbourne | Regional Victoria |
| 1-20 | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| 21-100 | $20,000 | $15,000 |
| 101 or more | $30,000 | $25,000 |
Outdoor Eating & Entertainment Package Business Grants
To support businesses adapt to outdoor dining and entertainment, grants are available to licensed and unlicensed hospitality businesses, including restaurants, cafes, pubs/taverns, bars, clubs and takeaway food venues.
Eligible businesses can apply for a grant of $5,000 and funds can be used to pay for practical things like umbrellas, outdoor furniture, screens and other equipment. This will help move the indoor dining and cafe experiences Victorians love, outdoors.
Recipients can also use grants for training, marketing and other costs of adapting new, expanded or enhanced outdoor dining.
If your business is not eligible for a grant under this program, you may be eligible for support under the Victoria Government’s Business Resilience Package.
Payroll tax waived
Businesses with annual taxable wages up to $3M will have their payroll tax for their payroll tax for the 2019-2020 financial year waived. Eligible businesses must continue to lodge returns but do not need to make further payments for this financial year. Businesses will also be eligible to defer any payroll tax liability for the first three months of the 2020-21 financial year until January 1, 2021.
Liquor licence fees waived
Businesses that have paid for a renewable liquor licence for 2020 will be reimbursed their licence fee and those yet to pay will have the fee waived.
2021 liquor licensing fees will also be waived.
Land tax deferral
Land-owners due to pay 2020 land tax that have at least one non-residential property and total taxable landholdings below $1M have the option of deferring their 2020 land tax payment until 31 March 2021.
This information was compiled with assistance from Bowls Australia, with grants being made available by Business Victoria.
