Support and information for businesses during Coronavirus

The Shire is paving the way for extended footpath trading and a new ‘parklets’ program to support local restaurants and cafes as COVID-19 restrictions ease over spring and summer.
 
Additional outdoor dining space will be crucial for the Peninsula’s food businesses to re-open and remain profitable while complying with social distancing measures and space restrictions.

Learn more about extended outdoor dining.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire has developed a business support package designed to help the local community through the unprecedented effects of COVID-19. 

See all the ways we are helping business in our Roadmap for a COVID-safe economic recovery(PDF, 2MB)

For more information on support that is available for your business please phone 1300 850 600 or email business@mornpen.vic.gov.au.

Mornington Peninsula Shire has a platform called Funding Finder which lists all funding opportunities provided by state, federal and philanthropic grant programs, including all COVID-19 funding support.

Federal and State guidelines for businesses are being updated regularly. Subscribe to receive the MP Business newsletters and stay up to date.

A wide range of free business resources  are collated on the Shire’s MPbusiness website.

The Shire offers Free Business Webinars on topics such as: finance fundamentals, taking businesses online, business marketing, building business resilience, and commercialising new business ideas. For more information and to book in a webinar, visit: mpbusiness.com.au/event

The Mornington Peninsula Shire in conjunction with Small Business Mentoring Service offers FREE business mentoring sessions to support businesses on the Peninsula. These clinics are introductory sessions, where you get the opportunity for a 45 minute one-on-one with a small business mentor at no cost. Learn more about the Small Business Mentoring Clinics.

Your free library membership gives you access to a range of great training resources that can help your business and staff transition to operating online. This includes free access to Lynda.com which offers training in online meetings, productivity tools and more. Visit the Library website to learn more.

The ATO provides tailored support to businesses feeling the effects of coronavirus. Phone 1800 806 21

Chartered Accountants Australia provides information on business and tax impacts.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry provides resources for businesses and is offering free annual membership (up to $700 value) to enable all Victorian businesses to access its services.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides information for employers and employees.

The Australia Banking Association provides a list of every bank’s contact number for financial hardship inquiries.

The Shire offers free business listings on its local business directory website MPBusiness.

Local businesses are able to create and manage their own business listing on the directory. Update it regularly to keep customers informed about how your business is adapting or changing its operations during Coronavirus. You can create a new business listing or update an existing one, and it will be displayed in a number of areas:

• Create or update your listing on MP Business
• The Local Business Directory that lists all businesses under a range of categories
• The Support Local Business Directory that promotes local business that are still operating during these changing times.
• The Best Bites Online Directory of food businesses offering safe, healthy and sustainable foods. 

We know that many of our local businesses have been impacted by the current restrictions and want to ensure you have access to all the available resources to assist you through this challenging time and beyond. 

We are trying to connect with as many Mornington Peninsula based businesses as possible to hear how you’re doing and get your valuable feedback in this short survey so that we can better target our assistance to you (it will take you five minutes!).

This will help us identify how best Council can support Mornington Peninsula based businesses and how we can advocate to government to build recovery and resilience.

Complete the Survey

Businesses have an important role to assist with the prevention and management of the current outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Shire is regularly updating information for food businesses to assist them and further protect the community. Environmental Health Officers are available for advice and can provide up to date Coronavirus business information & support.

Advice on operating a Covid-safe business, business restrictions, personal hygiene and food safety is available from DHHS and from Business Victoria.

You can also find specific sector guidance including cafes, restaurants and food businesses

Learn more about Health and Hygiene for Business

As we stay home to stay safe, a new campaign will encourage Victorians to experience some of our state’s best produce and products – right from the comfort of their own home.

‘Click for Vic’, is a new campaign to encourage door-to-door delivery from Victorian restaurants, cafes, bars, producers, growers, and artisans.  

Victoria is home to some of the best fresh food, wine, galleries and homewares in the world – but the coronavirus pandemic has hit many small producers hard.

The new website – backed by a major new campaign that will be rolled out across television, print, radio, digital and social media channels – will encourage Victorians to support these hard-working local businesses, which are vital to so many local communities.

Visit the Shire's MPbusiness website to read more

The Business Support Package provides more support to help businesses and workers through to the other side of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

• Business Support Fund – expansion
• Hospitality Business Grant program
• Third round of Business Support Fund grants

Licensed Hospitality Business ($251 million): Grants of up to $30,000 for licensed pubs, clubs, hotels, bars, restaurants and reception centres, based on their venue capacity and location. Details to be announced.

Business Chambers and Trader Groups ($3 million): A competitive grants program to support metropolitan and regional business chambers and trader groups. Details to be announced.

Business Victoria has put together a Business Support and Financial Assistance Finder to help businesses, sole traders, or employees identify support or financial assistance.

Agriculture Victoria have put in place the Agriculture Workforce Plan offers recruitment support, grants and resources for agricultural businesses. Contact Colin Crotty Eastern Metropolitan Region, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) to get help with your application.

The state government is also providing $1.8 billion in tax and cashflow support.

• $1.7 billion in payroll tax deferrals for the full 2020-21 financial year
• $41 million to bring forward the 50% stamp duty discount for commercial and industrial property for all of Regional Victoria.
• $33 million to defer the planned increase in the landfill levy for six months
• $30 million to waive 25% of the Congestion Levy this year, with the outstanding balance deferred.
• $27 million in liquor license fee waivers for 2021
• $6 million to waive Vacant Residential Land Tax for vacancies in 2020.

For more business support information contact: Business Victoria - phone 13 22 15

For the latest information on the Federal Government’s economic response (including support for sole traders, JobKeeper and more) refer to the COVID-19 outbreak refer to Treasury’s Coronavirus page or businesses and employers.

Or contact business.gov.au on 13 28 46

Business proprietors, their staff and families can access a range of mental health services to help them cope.

• The Shire has a detailed list of resources to help with managing COVID-19 & Health and Wellbeing here
• Business Victoria offers additional mental health business resources and a listing of free mental health services.
• Beyond Blue has valuable tips for small business owners on managing mental health during coronavirus or you can call them on 1800 512 348 to speak to a trained counsellor.
• Resources are available on the Head to Health website, including self-help options and information on accessing mental health services. 
• For businesses concerned about staff between 15-25 years there is support on offer through Headspace Ph: 1800 650 890, and the Shire Youth Services team

Services and industries that are able to remain operational will be required to have a COVID Safe Plan.

Employers that require their staff to attend a work site must issue a worker permit to their employees.

• DHHS: Business and industry stage 4 restrictions
• DHHS: Permitted Worker Scheme
• Business Victoria: COVID Safe Plans and your sector
• Business Victoria: Coronavirus business support

All employers must notify Work Safe Victoria if an employee has tested positive for COVID-19.

• Work Safe Victoria has the latest information about coronavirus in the workplace: reporting a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis; preventing and managing exposure to Coronavirus; face coverings in workplaces; and a Coronavirus guide for employers.
• Safe Work Australia has a Small Business Coronavirus Planning Tool to help your business develop a COVIDSafe Plan.
• Find more DHHS information on face masks – including refusing entry to customers who try to enter without wearing a mask, and Work Safe advice on responding to work related violence

A mediation service is available for commercial tenants and landlords through the Small Business Commission

Currently there is  

• A six month moratorium on commercial tenancy evictions from 29 March for the non-payment of rent for small to medium enterprises
• A freeze on rent increases during the moratorium for commercial tenants
• A rental payment waiver or deferral can be negotiated between tenant and landlord proportionate to commercial tenants’ income reduction
• Land tax relief available to commercial landlords that provide rent relief to their tenants, provided the tenant’s annual turnover doesn’t exceed $50 million

Email or phone 13 87 22.

There are a range of good print resources (posters, signage and floor stickers) available from Business Victoria and DHHS

• Poster – We have completed COVID hospitality training
• Poster – How to slow the spread of coronavirus
• Poster - Protect yourself and your family. Cover your cough and sneeze
• Poster - Protect yourself and your family. Wash your hands regularly
• Door sign - Our maximum number of patrons is:
• Door sign - Please do not enter this venue if you are experiencing symptoms
• Sign - Help us practice physical distancing
• Sign - Let's all keep 1.5m apart
• Sign - Please stand here
• Sign - Protect yourself and others
• Sign - This screen is in place to help safeguard you and our team
• Floor sticker - Please stand here

The Department of Health offers a large number of fact sheets and resources to help you stay informed and share important messages with your staff and customers

There is also additional industry specific information for Mornington Peninsula food and health businesses here