The statewide lockdown has been confirmed until 70 per cent of Victorians have had at least one dose of vaccine – estimated to be around 23 September. The four-week business support payments confirmed today cover a four-week period ending on 30 September.

The vast majority of payments will be deposited automatically into businesses’ bank accounts, while a new tiered payments system for the Business Costs Assistance Program will allow for higher payments to businesses with more workers.

Details about Victorian business support payments is available at business.vic.gov.au.

Business Costs Assistance Program Round 4

Businesses throughout Victoria will receive automatic payments of $2,800 a week (annual payroll below $650,000), $5,600 a week (payroll of 650,000 to $3 million) or $8,400 (payroll of $3 million to $10 million) to cover ongoing costs such as wages, rent, utilities and insurance.

Businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021

Licensed hospitality businesses that have previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or July Extension programs will receive automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000.

Payment amounts are tiered according to premises capacity: $5,000 for a capacity of up to 99 patrons or where patron capacity is not specified, $10,000 for a capacity of 100 to 499 patrons, and $20,000 for a capacity of 500 or more.

Hospitality businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.

Small Business COVID Hardship Fund

This program supports businesses that have been ineligible for Victorian Government business support programs since May but have experienced a reduction in revenue of at least 70 per cent. This includes businesses that are legally allowed to operate but are restricted in their ability to generate revenue.

This grant excludes businesses already receiving the Business Support Fund 4 of $2,800 per week.

This grant is now raised to $20,000

Applications for the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund will close on 10 September, however an extension has been granted but not information on date is currently available.

Alpine Support Package – September Top-Up

Alpine businesses will share in $11.2 million in support through another automatic top-up payment of between $10,000 and $40,000.

These payments will assist alpine businesses through the remainder of the ski season, with a top-up payment available for approximately 430 businesses based on and off the mountain.

For off-mountain businesses, the payment will be $10,000, for on-mountain business with no employees, $20,000, and for on-mountain businesses with employees, $40,000.