Yarra City Council is working with its local business community to ensure retailers can bounce back when restrictions ease later next month.
A range of new initiatives have been introduced to help make the staged reopening much easier for local traders.
In addition to the recently announced Precinct Recovery Grants of up to $20,000 per successful applicant, Yarra Council will also be waiving permit fees for footpath trading until the end of March 2021. We will also be deferring food and health registration fees until the end of March.
Yarra Council has so far provided more than $800,000 in refunds and waivers to businesses this year. These additional fee waivers until March 31 2021, will save Yarra businesses a further $600,000.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure our business community bounces back after Covid-19,” Yarra Mayor Cr Misha Coleman said.
“Our business and retail precincts are vital to Yarra’s economy. We not only want our retailers to survive this pandemic but we want to ensure they thrive afterwards.”
Yarra Council has set up a rapid response team to assess applications for extended footpath trading during the recovery period.
Council is also investigating different ways it can create additional outdoor spaces for businesses to use in Yarra during this time.
“When restrictions ease and businesses are allowed to reopen we know how important outdoor dining and spaces outside are going to be,” Cr Coleman said.
“We are working with businesses to create additional tradeable spaces, including using footpaths, laneways and other open spaces to ensure our businesses can bounce back quickly.”
“We are also easing financial burdens with grants and the waiving of permit fees to ensure businesses can get back on their feet quicker.”
“We recognise the challenges our business community is facing and we want them to know we are all in this together.”
Council also welcomes the Victorian Government’s $3 billion Business Resilience Package, introduced to help businesses impacted by ongoing restrictions and prepare for COVID Normal trading.
