Victorian businesses play an important role in keeping our community safe from COVID-19.
To help businesses and workplaces improve ventilation and reduce COVID-19 transmission, the Victorian Government has released new guidance on building ventilation.
This includes the Small Business Ventilation Guide and a video on Improving ventilation in your business which provide simple tips to help businesses.
To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and improve ventilation in areas accessed by customers, the Victorian Government is providing support to public facing small businesses through the Small Business Ventilation Program.
Eligible businesses can now apply for funding to invest in equipment, works or engage professional services to improve ventilation in areas of the workplace that are accessible to customers.
Under the program, two types of support are available:
- Ventilation Rebate–a $500 rebate for public facing small businesses to take immediate actions such as purchasing equipment or hiring a qualified tradesperson to undertake minor services to improve ventilation in areas accessible to customers
- Ventilation Grant–matched grants from $1000 to $5000 to enable public facing small businesses who employ staff to invest in larger projects to improve ventilation such as building works, engaging professional services or equipment in areas accessible to customers.
Applications are open until 11:59pm Friday 24 June 2022 or when funds are fully allocated, whichever comes first.
Types of eligible expenditure through the Small Business Ventilation Support Program include:
- works to the building to maximise ventilation, for example fixing windows to ensure they open or adding additional windows or doors to create greater air flow
- purchase and installation of spare parts to ensure the existing ventilation system operates effectively
- repairs, servicing or cleaning of an existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system or air conditioning unit
- purchasing an air purifier using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter for the premises
- inspection by a qualified professional service provider for the purpose of a ventilation audit, HVAC health check or assistance with items identified in the self-assessment ventilation guidance
- equipment and works that improve air ventilation and/or purification for the installation, upgrade, maintenance and repair of building infrastructure and ventilation systems
- direct costs to deliver the ventilation project such as labour, regulatory approvals or cost of building modification directly related to and required to accommodate the ventilation strategy.
What to do to apply to the program?
- Read the Small Business Ventilation Guide.
- Assess the publicly accessible rooms or spaces in your workplace to identify opportunities to improve ventilation.
- Review the eligibility criteria for the program, decide what improvements you will make to your business and determine whether you will apply for the Ventilation Rebate or a Ventilation Grant (or both).
- If applying for the Ventilation Rebate – purchase equipment, undertake works and/or seek professional advice that will improve ventilation which is appropriate for your circumstance and business activities.
- If applying for a Ventilation Grant: (1) purchase equipment, undertake works and/or seek professional advice that will improve ventilation which is appropriate for your circumstance and business activities OR (2) prepare ventilation project proposal if the funds will be spent after 24 June 2022. Evidence of eligible expenditure must be provided by 15 November 2022.
- Submit an online application by 24 June 2022.
For further information, visit Small Business Ventilation Program or call the Business Victoria Hotline on 13 22 15.
This program is a part of a broader Victorian Government Business Stimulus Package. To learn about other support you could access, visit Business Stimulus Package.
Article re-produced from Business Victoria newsletter
