Support for businesses

Areas of support include:

• Cash flow payment of up to $25,000 for employers
• 50 per cent wage subsidy for apprentices and trainees
• Increase in the instant asset write off threshold to $150,000
• 50 per cent accelerated depreciation for investments.

For more information please visit the Coronavirus information and support for business page.

Areas of support include:

• $607 million stimulus package to support WA households and small businesses in the wake of COVID-19
• $114 million in additional measures to support small businesses
• Small businesses that pay payroll tax will receive a one-off grant of $17,500
• $1 million payroll tax threshold brought forward by six months to 1 July 2020
• Businesses impacted by COVID-19 can defer payroll tax payments until 21 July 2020.

For more information please visit the Department of Premier and Cabinet Coronavirus business and industry advice page.

The Small Business Development Corporation’s live blog is also a wealth of knowledge, visit the blog here.

More than 22,000 businesses call Stirling home and the City of Stirling is responding to emerging small business pressures and providing much needed support over the next six months.

Business counselling

The City is partnering with Business Foundations to provide our local businesses with tailored one-on-one advice on business continuity planning, identifying and reducing financial pressures, and implementing immediate strategies to get through the next six months.

If you are interested in this initiative please get in contact with the City’s Economic Development team at economicdevelopment@stirling.wa.gov.au.

Small Business Information Hotline

The City has developed a dedicated Small Business Information Hotline to provide Stirling based businesses with advice and assistance. You can contact the Hotline on (08) 9205 8904 from Monday 30 March 2020.

Verge bonds

The City is removing the fee for verge permits and reducing the amount of money tied up in verge bonds by up to $1,000. Existing verge bonds will also be refunded by up to $1,000 to allow more cash flow. The City’s Development Services team will be in contact with relevant businesses and households in the coming days.

Rates

The City will be temporarily ceasing collection on businesses with rate payment plans in place and removing interest charges.

Advice for restaurants and cafes offering delivery and takeaway

Restaurants, cafes and hotels have now been restricted to takeaway only under the Federal Government’s social distancing measures.

The City is working hard to support our food and beverage businesses at this time to provide clear guidance and information and will endeavour to keep you updated as the situation changes.

If you have closed your food business temporarily or moved to takeaway and/or home deliveries, please contact the City's Environmental Health team at environmentalhealth@stirling.wa.gov.au to advise of changes to your operation.

The City’s Environmental Health team is also here to provide support and advice on safe food handling practices to those local businesses introducing takeaway to their offering during this time.

As food can potentially become hazardous during home deliveries, food must be kept under specific conditions to minimise the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms. This includes:

• Transporting cold food in refrigerated vehicles, ice bricks, or insulated containers
• Transporting hot food in insulated bags.

If you are now operating as a takeaway venue, we would recommend seeking promotional opportunities by contacting the following websites and social media accounts: