A Matthew Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will invest $30 million into a new Local Shopping Strip Recovery Plan.
From Swan Hill to Traralgon, Warrnambool to Albury and everywhere in between, local shopping strips have been devastated by Labor’s lockdowns.
Instead of another year of Andrews-imposed purgatory, local shopping strips are in desperate need of positive, practical support to recover and rebuild.
That’s exactly what our Plan will deliver.
Under Matthew Guy, small businesses will finally have a Government who works with them and creates the conditions they need to thrive:
- No more lockdowns.
- No more density limits.
- No more mask mandates.
And now, a $30 million fund Local Shopping Strip Recovery Plan.
Our Local Shopping Strip Revitalisation Program will provide grants up to $500,000 for small businesses to develop priorities and plans to reinvigorate their local strips.
This could include things like encouraging pop-up shops to fill empty spaces, support for local activation events such as streets fairs, or beautification and practical improvements such as outdoor dining spaces, plantings, pocket parks, employing local mural artists and designers, lighting and footpath upgrades.
A special fund of up to $20,000 will be made for strip marketing and promotional campaigns.
Our Shopping Strip Revitalisation Program will focus on bringing together groups of small businesses and harnessing their local expertise to provide real outcomes to local businesses.
Comments attributable to the Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy:
“For Victoria to be number one again, it starts with supporting small business to get back to their best.”
“It starts with no more lockdowns, and no density and mask mandates, and ends with practical support through our Local Shopping Strip Recovery Plan.
“We want business to thrive and our local shopping strips to hum once again, and that’s what our plan is all about.”
Comments attributable to the Shadow Minister for Business Recovery, David Southwick:
“Only a Matthew Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will give businesses the confidence and security to rebuild and recover.”
“Our Shopping Strip Revitalisation Program will be a big boost to local jobs and employment to all of Victoria, not just businesses in metropolitan Melbourne.
“During lockdown, local shopping strips were often the only places where we could feel like a community. Our Plan sets them up for a better, brighter future.”
