$50,000 for East Gippsland bushfire recovery
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$50,000 for East Gippsland bushfire recovery

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, met with members of the Orbost District Community Development Group (Rhonda Smith, Rene Sundermann, Garry Squires and Stan Weatherall) and East Gippsland Shire Mayor, Cr Mark Reeves, to announce $50,000 in State funds for a project to support fire affected communities.

The Victorian Coalition Government is helping fire-impacted communities in East Gippsland, with an investment of $50,000 for a business capacity building project to support the region’s recovery, growth and sustainability, Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, announced today.

Mr Bull said the funding would be provided through the Victorian Government’s 2014 Bushfires Economic Recovery Fund.

“The aim of the $1.2 million Bushfires Economic Recovery Fund is to support the recovery of communities affected by bushfires in January and February 2014 by stimulating economic activity,” Mr Bull said.

“The Victorian Coalition Government recognises that economic recovery is often integral to the recovery of communities following natural disasters such as bushfires, particularly in those areas where the disaster has had a clear economic impact.”

Mr Bull said the Victorian Government was investing $50,000 in the Orbost and District Business Capacity Building Project to support economic recovery for businesses in the Orbost district which were impacted by the 2014 bushfires.

“East Gippsland Shire Council will provide mentoring for at least 10 businesses and at least four business workshops or training programs, a minimum of two general networking events and advocacy for local business and employment with large-scale projects in the district,” Mr Bull said.

“This broad range of support will help businesses build their capacity following the bushfires and other events that have impacted on the region’s economy.

“The project will build on a business mentoring program undertaken in 2013-14 which highlighted the need for further training and education in the business community.”

Mr Bull said the Victorian Government funding towards the $70,000 Orbost and District Business Capacity Building Project would be provided to East Gippsland Shire Council, which would contribute $20,000.

“The 2014 Bushfires Economic Recovery Fund is supporting initiatives such as tourism promotion, buy-local marketing campaigns, small infrastructure and streetscape projects and community development initiatives,” Mr Bull said.

“These initiatives will help build confidence in fire-affected communities and help accelerate the recovery process.”