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Lord Mayor Sally Capp has announced a $500,000 grants program for small businesses, in a bid to boost Melbourne’s “vibrancy with new retail, hospitality and creative offerings”.
A Melbourne council’s decision to close dozens of childcare centres has been described as disappointing by the state government.
This leaves around 1,100 kids in limbo when Knox City Council closes all but two of its Kinders from early 2025.
The move would also affect 120 workers employed at the centres.
The City of Melbourne announced a $500,000 grants program, which will be used to “support innovation and expansion” for about 25 small businesses.
Grants, valued up to $20,000, will be allocated to businesses seeking to expand their offerings or by encouraging them to “activate” vacant spaces in the city.
Small businesses in Melbourne are set to benefit from financial support following a drop in the city’s retail occupancy rates post-pandemic. Picture: David Crosling
The council will also inject $100,000 in a bid to boost business events, such as conferences, forums, expos and various networking events.
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said small businesses are the “lifeblood of the city” – citing data that showed occupancy rates are the lowest in the nation.
“That’s why we’re bringing back our Small Business Grants which consist of funding for new and existing traders to help make their business ideas a reality,” she said.
“Over the past year, Melbourne’s retail vacancy has dropped to the lowest rate in the country at 10.7 per cent.
“We will continue to invest across a diverse range of sectors as we work towards our goal of five per cent retail vacancy or less.”
Sally Capp said small businesses are the “lifeblood of the city”, and cited data that showed occupancy rates are the lowest in the nation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie
“We’ve also seen positive signs across a range of Melbourne’s key economic indicators – including that 90 per cent more traders have applied for permits to upgrade their businesses compared to last year – which highlights trader confidence in the city.”
It comes after a number of businesses revolted over a proposed injecting room within the Salvation Army building on Bourke Street.
An open letter signed by 40 distressed traders has urged Premier Daniel Andrews to reconsider the location.
The potential site has sparked backlash due to its proximity to the Palace theatre, high profile restaurants, Parliament House and open parks.
“While the welfare of drug users is one consideration to be made, this should not be to the detriment of the safety and wellbeing of workers, commuters, residents, customers and visitors,” the letter said.
REA Group CEO Owen Wilson says the property market is “incredibly healthy” with buyer enquiry and interest indicating an increase well above pre-pandemic levels.
“It shows the market is starting to recover … buyer enquiry has been increasing since May and it is up well ahead of pre-COVID levels,” Mr Wilson told Sky News Australia.
“We took cost action, we reduced our investment, we pared back our cost in Australia – only had one per cent cost growth which is very pleasing.”
In partnership with realestate.com.au
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“Any increased risk to their safety and wellbeing is simply not a risk we can accept.
“The ramifications would be felt across our city and would damage our reputation nationally and internationally,” it added.
The Andrews government is working through a report from Victoria’s former top cop Ken Lay before deciding on where to house the CBD safe injecting room.
The need for a CBD location was borne out of a review into a trial of the contentious North Richmond site, which last week was plagued with news that new mothers were asking to relocate from a nearby health facility amid safety concerns.
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