The Victorian government has announced that primary producers and small businesses affected by the September 2010 Victorian floods can now apply for a Clean-up and Restoration Grant of up to $15 000.
The grant is a discretionary payment and to be eligible, applicants must:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- employ less than 20 full time (or equivalent) employees
- derive at least 51% of their income from the business and contribute a significant amount of time to the business
- have suffered direct damage to premises, tools of trade, equipment, plant or stock as a result of the floods.
All claims for assistance will be assessed on an individual basis and must be accompanied by documentation to support the claim.
If you are successful in applying for the grant, you can use it to assist with a range of measures including:
- clean-up costs including equipment hire, materials and external labour
- removal of debris and damaged goods
- essential repairs to buildings (other than housing) and internal fittings such as floors or electrical wiring
- payment for tradespersons to conduct safety inspections
- leasing of temporary premises and hire/lease costs for essential materials and stock needed to resume your business
Applications for the Clean-up and Restoration Grant must be made by 31 March 2011.
To find out if you are eligible and to apply for the grant, download the Flood Application Clean-up and Restoration Grant – Small Businesses (PDF, 0.34MB) form from the Rural Finance Corporation of Victoria website.
