The Brumby Labor Government’s Mobile Business Centre will visit flood-affected businesses in Charlton later this week.
Small Business Minister Joe Helper said to ensure recovery happened effectively the Government was offering to help local businesses through one-on-one business mentoring sessions on Thursday and Friday.
“The Brumby Labor Government is focused on making it easier for flood-affected business in Charlton to get back up and running and also focus on future risk,” Mr Helper said.
“The Mobile Business Centre offers face-to-face support, free and confidential business mentoring sessions and access to important small business information.”
On board the Mobile Business Centre are experienced business mentors with diverse backgrounds in accounting, banking, marketing, sales, finance, manufacturing, retailing, franchising, tourism, PR, exporting and more.
Mr Helper said mentors have been selected for their business experience, people skills and passion for helping small businesses to recover and succeed.
“Most communities were remarkably well prepared for these floods, but as with all natural disasters, it takes time to assess the damage and become fully operational again,” he said.
The Mobile Business Centre has already assisted flood-affected businesses in Bright, Myrtleford, Wangaratta and Benalla.
Mr Helper said the Brumby Labor Government has announced a $10.4 million interim response package to help businesses and communities adversely affected by the state’s worst floods in over a decade.
The package includes:
- $5 million to help restore eligible community infrastructure. Regional Development Victoria will administer grants of up to $300,000 and consult with local councils and community groups to identify eligible infrastructure projects;
- A $5 million business recovery package to provide grants on a case-by-case basis to flood damaged businesses (including farm businesses). Grants of up to $15,000 for clean-up and restoration works will be administered by the Rural Finance Corporation with eligibility guidelines available on www.ruralfinance.com.au or through the Victorian Business help line on 13 22 15;
- A $100,000 tourism and events package to assist affected councils in hosting key events to encourage visitors to their regions; and
- $300,000 to establish five flood recovery officer positions for six months to help councils to deal with the impact of the floods and the recovery process.
Mr Helper said by the end of October, the Mobile Business Centre will have delivered over 250 mentoring sessions in more than 35 regional and rural communities since first hitting the road in June this year.
“This is the first year that Small Business Victoria is offering the Mobile Business Centre and we look forward to bringing it to even more communities in 2011,” he said.
The Mobile Business Centre will be outside the Buloke Shire Council offices at 1 High Street, Charlton on Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.
For more information about the Mobile Business Centre call Small Business Victoria on 13 22 15 or visit www.business.vic.gov.au/mbc