October 28th, 2022Support for producers and business

The state government is supporting primary producers and small businesses across Victoria affected by the devastating floods to get back in business, with an initial package of support to help kickstart their relief effort.
A $73.5 million package will deliver grants to help farmers and business owners
clean up their properties, while business mentoring, concessional loans and transport
subsidies will help businesses get back on their feet.
The $19.5 million Primary Producer Flood Relief Program will deliver a one-off
$10,000 payment – administered by Rural Finance – to primary producers directly
affected by the floods to help them clean up, re-establish their properties, and get
their businesses up and running again.
Primary producers whose properties have been directly hit are also eligible for
concessional loans of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets, and meet
general expenses incurred while the clean-up is underway.
Flood-affected primary producers can also claim up to 50 per cent of transport
costs – up to $15,000 – for the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking
water, and moving stock to agistment, sale or slaughter.
Small business owners whose livelihoods have been affected by the floods will
also be supported through the $54 million Small Business Immediate Flood Relief
Program.
Directly impacted small businesses will be eligible for a one-off payment of
$5,000 to support clean-up, safety inspections, repairs, the hiring of equipment and
purchase of stock that businesses need to get back in business as quickly as possible.
The program will also support a dedicated Business Relief Service – with
dedicated mentors to guide business owners through the available Commonwealth,
state and local supports and manage insurance and landlord issues.
Applications for both grant programs opened on October 20 – with applicants for
the agriculture grants encouraged to visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/
emergency-management/floods/flood-advice-and-support. For small business grants,
call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
This natural disaster is a distressing time for many Victorians, whether their
homes have been inundated, they have been temporarily displaced or lost part of the
business they have given so much to – and a $4.4 million initial package will support
any extra mental healthcare flood-affected Victorians need.
The government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing hubs, which were set up during
the pandemic to support extra mental health demand, will see $1.5 million in surge
funding in the worst-affected areas across regional Victoria and Melbourne’s west,
supporting Victorians doing it tough as a result of the floods.
Primary producers whose properties, livestock or crops were lost in the floods
will get the dedicated mental health support they need, with $500,000 for specialist
agriculture organisations including the National Centre for Farmer Health.
Victorians are reminded they can contribute to flood recovery efforts at givit.org.