BUSINESSES impacted by last week’s snap five-day lockdown will be supported by a $143 million funding package announced by the State Government.

On Sunday, industry support and recovery minister, Martin Pakula announced the Circuit Breaker Support Package, which would help more than 50,000 businesses across the state that were financially impacted by the sudden lockdown.

“Victorian businesses played their part in the circuit breaker action and this package recognises that the impact for many was severe,” he said.

The package is made up of four initiatives to target sectors most impacted by the lockdown.

Over $90 million will be offered by the Business Costs Assistance Program, which will offer $2000 grants for businesses in the hospitality, tourism, events, retail and food wholesaling sectors that had to close or cancel bookings because of the lockdown.

Café Gray owner, Tim Roll said any support was welcomed, but the lockdown had a significant financial impact on business.

“We had to go back to providing takeaway and lost all the bookings,” he said.

“With all the other retail closed too, it was really quiet down the street and so we didn’t have too many people coming in – we probably did over three days we were open what we would normally do in one day.”

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