The general manager of Horsham's Capital hotel and bistro has welcomed a new government funding package.
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On Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews announced $3 billion in cash grants, tax relief and cash flow support to Victorian businesses.
Included in this is grants between $10,000 and $30,000 for bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs, hotels and reception centres, and a waiver of liquor licence fees, congestion levies, and a fast-tracked stamp duty discount across regional Victoria.
Shannon Couch said she would spend the money on renovations and marketing if successful.
"It could be on just creating better spaces, maybe revamping ourselves," she said. "Now would be a good time to do that with six months of not being able to trade.
"We get most of our guests, especially on the weekends, from Melbourne, to see the Grampians and Silo Art Trail. The other side of that is if the town hall is open, we get a lot of people coming from the smaller towns staying the night after a performance."
Ms Couch said the lifting of restrictions to step three levels, which could happen as early as this week, would help her business up to a point.
"It would make the weekdays different, so there may be more corporates and representatives travelling again. But a lot of people would normally come from South Australia too. Until we are a little more open, I don't think that will change a lot," she said.
The Capital has been making takeaway meals since the second round of stage three restrictions began, starting a new venture making woodfired pizzas in its car park. It has let go staff not eligible for JobKeeper, but expects to hire waitstaff back once restrictions ease sufficiently.
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At the Sunday update, Mr Andrews said over $1.1 billion in cash grants would support small and medium-sized businesses most affected by coronavirus restrictions "including $822 million as part of the third round of the Business Support Fund".
"Around 75,000 eligible businesses with payrolls up to $10 million will receive grants of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 depending on their size," he said.
The support fund has previously drawn criticism for not be available to sole traders. Mr Andrews and state treasurer Tim Pallas said a support announcement specific for these businesses was due soon.
"We will have more to say on sole traders and a package of considerable support very soon. There will also be some further announcements around how we try to help businesses find that (new) normal," he said.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
