Grants for Victorian businesses now open

Metropolitan businesses that will have restrictions eased from Friday 3 June 2021 will not be eligible for the extended payment.
The Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 grants for businesses in metropolitan Melbourne with eligible liquor licences and food certificates will be doubled from $3,500 to $7,000.

Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two

Eligible businesses will receive a one-off payment of $2,500 or $5,000.

Grant amount

The grant amount payable to an eligible business is determined by:

1. The business’ industry sector (see eligible ANZSIC classes)

2. The business’ location:

• businesses that were subject to restrictions between 28 May 2021 up to and including 3 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $2,500.
• businesses that were subject to restrictions between 28 May 2021 up to and including 3 June 2021 and further restrictions from 4 June 2021 will be eligible for funding of $5,000.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, businesses must:

• be located within Victoria
• operate in an eligible sector listed in the list of eligible ANZSIC classes for this program
• have incurred direct costs because of the restrictions and cannot fully operate remotely
• have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
• have been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Thursday 27 May 2021
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at Thursday 27 May 2021
• be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator.

Employing businesses must also:

• be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
• attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the circuit breaker action, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.

Businesses that receive a grant under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 are not eligible for a grant under this program.

Businesses that meet the eligibility criteria and have received assistance through the previous three rounds of the Business Support Fund, payroll tax rebate/waiver, or other COVID-19 business support programs are eligible to apply for a grant under this program.

The program is now open for applications and will remain open until 11:59pm on Thursday 24 June 2021.

Useful links

For further information or to register for the support payments, please refer to the following links.

• Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two information
• Business Costs Assistance Program online application form

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

Grant amount

• Eligible businesses will receive $3,500 per premises in regional Victoria.
• Eligible businesses will receive $7,000 per premises in metropolitan Melbourne.

The funds may be used to assist with:

• meeting business costs, including utilities, wages or rent
• seeking financial, legal, or other advice to support business continuity planning
• developing the business through marketing and communications activities
• any other supporting activities related to the operation of the business.

Eligibility criteria

Liquor licensees who have received their application form link from Business Victoria are eligible to apply.

To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must also:

• operate a licensed bar, restaurant, pub, club, hotel, café or reception centre that is registered to serve food and alcohol (Premises) located in Victoria on 27 May 2021
• hold a general or late night (general), full club, restaurant and cafe, producer’s or on-premises or late night (on-premises) liquor licence as of 27 May 2021
• provide a Class 2 or 3 Service Sector Certificate of Registration under the Food Act 1984 that is valid in 2021 for serving food on the same premises
• be registered for goods and services tax (GST) on 27 May 2021
• hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 27 May 2021
• be registered with the responsible Commonwealth or Victorian regulator.

For employing businesses only, the applicant must attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the circuit breaker action, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.

Businesses who hold a food certificate but do not hold a liquor licence are not eligible for a grant under this program. Businesses who hold a liquor licence but do not have a food certificate for the same premises are also not eligible for a grant under this program.

Businesses can only receive a grant from either the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021, not both.

If you have received funding through previous business support programs, you may also qualify for this grant if you meet all the eligibility criteria.

Eligible liquor licensees under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 payment have been emailed directly by Business Victoria with a link to their grant application form.

The program is now open for applications and will remain open until 11:59pm on Thursday 24 June 2021.

Further information

For further information and how to apply for the grant, please refer to the Business Victoria web page:

• Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

We are committed to supporting businesses during this challenging time. For further information or assistance, please contact your Bentleys advisor.

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and should not be relied on as advice. It does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. You need to consider your financial situation and needs and seek professional advice before making any decisions based on this information.