The Shopfront Improvement Grant Program will provide matching grants of $2000 and is designed to complement the huge investment on the streetscapes of the Shepparton CBD.
Initially, $30,000 has been allocated to the grant fund.
Eligible businesses fall within the boundary of the Shepparton CBD or within the commercial area of the main street of a small town within the municipality that is facing the street; usually containing display windows and open to and trading with customers from those premises.
Cr Shane Sali said the scheme was a great initiative and formed part of the third stage of the council’s COVID-19 response plan.
“Some positive outcomes from this grant program will be to attract new investment opportunities, to support existing business growth, to support landlords to retain tenants and improve marketability,” he said.
Cr Anthony Brophy said he was pleased the grant scheme had been spread far and wide, and he expected a strong uptake.
“Hopefully it is well over-subscribed,” he said.
Cr Sam Spinks also supported the scheme, which is a 12-month trial, but said the review after that period should look at including many businesses that fell outside the current criteria.
“I would like to see this reviewed within 12 months and we expand this beyond the CBD and within Mooroopna, beyond the main street,” Cr Spinks said.
“We are only talking about $2000 but (it) is an important incentive for the refreshing of shopfronts.”
Cr Seema Abdullah also said the grants should be extended to businesses across the municipality but supported the adoption of the scheme.
“It is yet another demonstration of council’s strong, tangible support for businesses,” Cr Abdullah said.
The motion to adopt the scheme was passed unopposed.
