After such a difficult year it is great to see the local business community re-opening with vibrancy and vigour. The rollout of the Hobsons Bay Business has Heart Outdoors program is well under way and we look forward to continuing to support local business operators as they extend their outdoor trading over the summer months.

This month's newsletter includes information about Council's Hobsons Bay Business has Heart program which includes grants and free access to marketing and communication services.

Don't forget to join the Hobsons Bay Business Network group on Facebook to share your ideas and reopening queries with other people from the local business community.

If you would like any further information, or have any questions about doing business in Hobsons Bay, please contact Council's Economic Development team on 1300 179 944 or email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

Calling all entrepreneurs, innovators, startups and aspiring business owners - join us for the last #StartWest meetup of the year!

Hear from local business owners as they share ideas and insights on how they experimented and adapted their business model to a COVID-normal. 

Date: Wednesday 25 November
Time: 6pm to 7pm
Location: online
To register: click here

Calling all start-ups! Applications are open for a new, free and exciting pre-accelerator program just for you.

Delivered by Roshambo and powered by LaunchVic, this exciting start-up program will accelerate participants through the process of finding a business idea and then developing and scaling that idea into a sustainable model. For more information and to apply click here. 


This program is supported by Hobsons Bay City Council, in conjunction with councils in Melton, Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Wyndham, Hume and Campaspe Shire. 

Delivered by Business Victoria, Upskill My Business is connecting small businesses with a series of free online courses to develop your business skills and strengthen your business. The courses on offer can help you regain ground to find more customers, better manage cash flow or simply assist to prepare for new market conditions. 

Gain new skills and knowledge to keep your business moving forward by exploring courses and webinars to suit your needs.

For more information click here
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce (VCCI) is partnering with the Victorian Government to deliver a business mentoring program to help small businesses. Eligible business owners will receive up to four, free two-hour mentoring sessions with an experienced professional and guidance on business recovery, market transformation, digital literacy, reskilling and retraining, as well as market and supply chain diversification. 

For more information and to apply click here

Council is working with businesses to re-open safely and have rolled out outdoor trading areas across Hobsons Bay. Extended trading areas provide businesses with additional space to meet social distancing requirements and gain greater exposure. If you want to get involved click here. Applications close Friday 27 November at 5pm.

More information is also available for businesses involved in the program via the FAQ on our website, available here.

Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package Business Grants
Business Victoria is offering an outdoor eating and entertainment package to help businesses adapt their operations to outdoor dining. Eligible businesses can apply for a grant of $5,000 to pay for practical things like umbrellas, outdoor furniture, screens and other equipment.

For more information click here. Applications close at 11.59pm, 11 December 2020.

Do you have an idea for a project that could benefit the Hobsons Bay business community and respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic? Through the Hobsons Bay Business has Heart program, grants of up to $15,000 are available for groups of businesses to encourage residents to support local businesses. This is a great time to collaborate with other Hobsons Bay traders to help activate your precinct/industry.

For more ideas, eligibility and assessment guidelines click here

Need help with marketing, branding, communications or graphic design?
As part of the HBBhH program if you need extra support to reopen and recover, you can now access free and personalised, one-on-one support from marketing and communications and graphic design professionals. For more information click here

Free downloadable posters and COVID-Safe checklists
Download business checklists, free posters and collateral to print out and display at your business. For more information click here

Hobsons Bay Business has Heart is about loving where we live and supporting our local business community. As part of the program, we have created a 12-page Kids Local Passport to get the kids of Hobsons Bay and their families outdoors to explore, experience, celebrate their community and lift our local economy. The passport features colouring-in pages, activities and a place to collect stickers from local businesses.

If your business would like to get involved, click here to register.
Restrictions have eased  from 11.59pm, 22 November 2020 as outlined in the Premier's statement here.

For industry specific information for your business please visit the Business Victoria website here
Business Victoria has launched a Digital Adaption Program for eligible small businesses to trial and then receive access to digital products, tools and training to help build digital capability in their day-to-day operations. 

As part of the program, businesses can start using a new product, like point-of sale payment, or upgrades to existing digital tools, like adding a shop to a current website.

Registrations are now open. For more information click here.

The Treasurer delivered the Federal Budget on 6 October 2020 with Australia's Economic Recovery Plan designed to support a stronger economic recovery and bring more Australians back to work. 

Included in the budget is the $74 billion JobMaker Plan aimed to boost economic growth, create jobs, invest in future industries and skills, remove red tape, guarantee essential services and restore confidence in a stronger recovery. 

To find out what this could mean to your business click here

If you are experiencing financial hardship and having difficulty paying your Council rates you can apply for financial assistance. The Financial Hardship Policy has been updated with various options available dependent on the financial circumstances of the business. More information is available  online at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/financialassistance or by calling Council on 1300 179 944.

For more information about the rates waiver application process for businesses, click here.

Businesses wanting assistance in their first language can call Council's Language Line on 9932 1212 and ask to speak with an interpreter.

The $100 million Sole Trader Support Fund provides support to non-employing Victorian sole traders operating out of commercial premises or locations within specific sectors. Eligible traders may be eligible for a $3,000 grant to be used towards overhead costs.

For eligibility criteria and more information click here

City West Water has announced that it will waive the fixed trade waste agreement fee for the June-September billing quarter for food businesses that have ceased trading due to COVID-19.

To apply for the waiver, eligible customers can email smallbusiness@citywestwater.com.au with their business name and City West Water account number. If customers have already paid their bill but are eligible for the fee waiver, they can email the City West Water and can credit the fixed trade waste agreement fee on their next bill.

Do you have a vision for Spotswood or South Kingsville? Are there ideas that you would like to see in the area that will celebrate and enhance the look and feel of the neighbourhood? Until Sunday 13 December, Council is inviting Spotswood and South Kingsville residents, businesses and visitors to have a say on the future direction of their suburbs as part of the Better Places project.

The feedback will be used to define a shared vision for the future and a place guide that will identify and prioritise projects into the future. To have your say click here
Do you have a great idea for Hobsons Bay? Now is the time to Pitch Your Idea!

Council is inviting community members to pitch an idea to be included in the Hobsons Bay City Council 2021-22 Budget. Residents, community groups, sporting associations, businesses and organisations are encouraged to put forward ideas for capital works or community programs and projects to be funded next financial year. For more information click here.

Cyclists, drivers, pedestrians and public transport users are being asked to reshape our northern transport network.

Council is developing Local Area Movement Plans (LAMPs) for the northern area of Hobsons Bay, incorporating the suburbs of Brooklyn, Altona North, Newport, South Kingsville, Spotswood and Williamstown North and the community can have its say until Tuesday 5 January 2021.

The LAMPs will address the key challenges and constraints in the existing local transport network throughout the northern region of Hobsons Bay. They also aim to improve the way our community travels through our city on roads, public transport, the cycling network and footpaths.

Submit your thoughts, experiences and ideas on how to further improve the Hobsons Bay transport network by visiting participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/northernlamps