Chapel Street traders: Businesses still waiting for answers on Stonnington Council’s $250,000 ‘quick response’ grants program
A traders group has slammed an inner city council over delays in delivering a ‘quick response’ cash boost to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic saying they are “confused and upset” and still waiting for answers.
Inner East
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An inner city council has been accused of giving struggling businesses false hope over a quick response funding program designed to help them stay afloat.
Applicants for Stonnington Council’s $250,000 quick response business grants program are still waiting for answers since applications closed on August 30.
More than 520 traders applied for the grants — which were valued at up to $5000 — to help them with marketing, business planning and equipment to pivot and trade in the COVID-19 climate.
The council advised the grants would be available on a “first come, first served” basis and it would re-open applications on September 21 if there was any funding left.
Chapel Street Precinct general manager Chrissie Maus said some applicants received emails over the weekend asking them to resubmit documents they had initially included.
She said traders were also “confused and upset” that only a tenth of applicants would be successful, as she claimed the council advised the group the $250,000 package would not be capped.
“Our businesses really wanted this cash to pivot weeks ago and to survive this second wave,” she said.
“No one was advised that the whole process was to take three long months.
“The name set up an expectation, and the process has been quite sadly the opposite.“
Paul Kasteel, who owns Windsor restaurant and bar Miss Kuku, said he was “getting the impression they’re (the council) moving a bit slow”.
Mr Kasteel was also critical of the council’s assessment process for the grants, which included a review by business advisory group ION to ensure his application best met his business’ needs.
“I assumed they’d be looking at the application and vetting what I wanted to use it for, but instead they took me down a rabbit hole and encouraged me to create a virtual business,” he said.
“I’m losing a couple of grand a week … if we can’t open and can’t do indoor dining, we probably won’t exist next year.”
Stonnington chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said the response to the program meant it had taken “longer than expected to review all grants for eligibility”.
Ms Weatherill said “many applicants” had been informed of the outcome and the council expected to provide cash to those successful within the next fortnight.
She said the full $250,000 funding would be allocated and the council would announce a second round of grants later this month, focused on increasing visitation at shopping precincts.
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