“Many of the successful applicants indicated that they would use the funding to improve shop fittings and the amenity of their store or to purchase cleaning products to assist with making their premises COVID safe. Others said they will use the funds for services – such as to obtain accounting advice – or to develop an online presence. We are pleased that the successful applicants expressed their intent to use local suppliers wherever possible.

“Feedback from the grant recipients has been very positive to date with many expressing their appreciation that small business had been considered during these difficult times. As with any new process there are always ways to make applying even easier, this may even include re-visiting some of the criteria. Overall, we are pleased with the level of interest shown.

“We are currently developing the next phase of support activities to be considered under the $2M COVID-19 Community Support Fund and it is likely that it will include further initiatives to assist local businesses. We are aware that it will be a long road to recovery for businesses and community groups in South Gippsland and we intend to help where we can,” said Ms. Littlejohn.

This newspaper asked Council if the recipients of these grants will be disclosed to the public for transparency reasons. The Council does, after all, hold a community grants presentation evening to hand out $300,000 plus each year, so why not but for coronavirus, hold one for the business grants, or at least publicise the facts, for transparency reasons. Council provided the following response.

“Many of South Gippsland’s businesses have suffered significant hardship as a result of COVID-19, and Council was committed to support businesses through the recent grant funding. Many of these businesses are long-standing family businesses that have provided a service to the community over a number of years, and in some cases, decades.

Some of these businesses have been forced to close their doors, and many have had to stand down staff; this has been both traumatising and heart breaking for the business owners and the community. Council does not consider it a lack of transparency, but rather, a sign of respect for these businesses, by not publicly naming the successful applicants of the recent business grant funding stream.

All applicants were thoroughly reviewed by a selection panel with CEO sign off on the successful recipients and these details will be formalised in a confidential report to Council’s Administrators”.

Sports Grants, Community Grants-recipients fully disclosed to community. New Covid Business Grants-confidential.