What is the Alpine Resorts Support Program?

The $10.31 million Alpine Resorts Support Program supports businesses in the Alpine Resorts, who have generally not qualified for the Commonwealth JobKeeper or Victorian Government business support packages to date, manage the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The program is delivered across three streams:

• Stream 1: $4.31 million to provide grants of up to $20,000 to head lessee businesses to assist in paying their service charges to the Alpine Resort Management Boards (Invitation only – program closed)
• Stream 2: $5 million to provide grants of up to $25,000 to non-head lessee commercial operators within the Alpine Resorts and commercial operators located at Dinner Plain (Program closed)
• Stream 3: $1 million to provide grants of up to $25,000 to head lessee businesses that are critical to the economies of the resorts.

Stream 3 is now open for applications for grants.

Who is eligible to apply for a grant under Stream 3?

Businesses operating within a Victorian Alpine Resort are eligible to apply for a grant.

Businesses must also fulfil all the following criteria to be eligible to apply for a grant. They must:

• Operate a business with premises located in a Victorian Alpine Resort;
• Pay $50,000 or more in annual service charges in respect of its commercial operations¹;
• Have:
  • A bed count of 70 or more beds; or
  • A fully enclosed commercial area of 700m2 or greater;
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 13 September 2020;
• Be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) as at 13 September 2020; and
• Be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator; and
• At the commencement of the 2020 winter season, have operated:
  • A food and beverage venue (restaurant, café, pub, bar, club or other food venue); and/or
  • A retail outlet (rental, clothing, footwear, equipment, supermarket, pharmacy, gifts); and/or
  • A business that provides services directly to visitors (transport, activities, experiences, entertainment, health & wellbeing); and/or
  • An accommodation business that also has a public on-site food and beverage venue or a retail outlet.

To be considered for funding under this stream, eligible businesses will need to demonstrate that they are critical to the economy of their Alpine Resort.

Applicants will be asked to provide a response to the question below.  Applicants must address this question in no more than 500 words and will need to make the best possible case for funding.

Question: How is your business important to your Alpine Resort’s development and offering and what role does your business play in supporting of the local supply chain and regional economic activity?  

This could include:

• The type of offering the business provides – for example, a budget or group style offering that attracts first time visitors or a year-round operator that supports expansion of the green season offering
• The key demographics the business brings to its Alpine Resort
• The number of direct jobs the business supports during the winter season (based on 2017, 2018 and 2019 winter season)
• Any local contractors or suppliers that rely on the business (based on 2017, 2018 and 2019 winter season).

¹For a business that has a direct lease arrangement with an Alpine Resort Management Board:
The four Resort Management Boards were responsible for administering rent relief assistance. Other than not-for-profit organisations, entities received rent relief based on their level of commerciality. Head lessees had to apply based on a combination of them qualifying for rent relief, and on their sub-tenants qualifying in their own right. For example, if a private apartment was leased/genuinely available for lease for 25 per cent of the year, then the entity received 25 per cent rent relief. Registered not-for-profit entities who applied for and received rent relief were considered 100% commercial and the same will apply under this stream of the program. The four Resort Management Boards will be providing business data to the Department to assess and verify a head lessee’s application, including confirmed annual service charges and level of commerciality as determined through the rent relief assistance.

For a business that is a sub-tenant and does not have a direct lease arrangement with an Alpine Resort Management Board: This is the service charge component of the lease payments under your lease arrangement, and must not include any amount relating to site rent.

What evidence needs to be provided to show eligibility?

Applicants must certify that they meet the eligibility criteria, including declaring if they have received a Victorian Government grant from any of the following programs: Business Support Fund Round 3 and/or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund.

They must also ensure that their ABN is up-to-date and current as at the time of application.

Applicants must also provide evidence of the location of their business operations, amount of their service charges in respect of their commercial operations, bed count and/or fully enclosed commercial area, through the most recent:

• Utility bill or service charge invoices (gas, electricity, telecommunications, water); or
• Rental receipt; or
• Signed sub-lease agreement or licence agreement; or
• Business permit.

What type of businesses are not eligible for funding through the grant?

The following businesses are not eligible for funding under this program:

• A business that is responsible for managing lift operations at a resort
• A business that is publicly listed.

What level of funding is available through the grant?

Eligible businesses will receive a maximum funding grant of $25,000.

Any business that has received funding under the Victorian Government’s Business Support Fund Round 3, and/or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund will have this funding amount deducted from the maximum $25,000 available under this program.

In the event there is an oversubscription of recommended applicants following the assessment process, the Department reserves its right to alter the grant amount and the award of funding under this Program in its absolute discretion.

When will the period for grant applications close?

The program is open for applications until 11:59pm on 10 June 2021.

How will grants be awarded?

Funding will be allocated through a competitive grant process, assessed by a departmental panel.

The four Alpine Resort Management Boards (RMBs) will be provided business data and insights to the Department to assist in verifying and assessing applications, including:

• Location: Confirmation of location in an Alpine Resort
• Size: Confirmation of service charges, level of commerciality as determined through the rent relief assistance (where relevant), fully enclosed commercial area and/or bed count
• Operations: Confirmation on the type of business you operate
• Importance of business: Verification of your response to the question to confirm that your business is of importance to your Alpine Resort’s development and offering, local supply chain and regional economic activity.

A Departmental panel will provide a recommendation on the disbursement of grants. The Department’s decisions on all matters pertaining to the award of funding under this Program is at the Department’s absolute discretion.

What can the grants be used for?

Grant funds may be used to assist Alpine Resort businesses in:

• Meeting ordinary business costs, including service charges, utilities, salaries;
• Seeking financial, legal or other advice to support business continuity planning;
• Developing the business through marketing and communications activities; or
• Any other supporting activities related to the ordinary operation of the business.

How do I apply for a grant?

To apply for a grant, submit an online application with the required documentation through the ‘Apply Now’ button on the program page.

Can a business receive multiple grants under Stream 3 of the program?

No, a business as defined by its ABN can only receive one grant under this Stream 3 of the Program.

I received a Stream 1 or Stream 2 grant. Am I eligible to apply for Stream 3?

Yes, provided you meet the relevant eligibility criteria for Stream 3.

Are all Victorian Alpine Resorts eligible as part of the program?

Yes they are. Victoria is home to six Alpine Resorts – Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mt Buller and Mt Stirling, Lake Mountain and Mt Baw Baw and all businesses operating within these resorts are eligible.

I operate a business in Dinner Plain. Am I eligible to apply?

No. Stream 3 of the Alpine Resorts Support Program only supports businesses located within the six Alpine Resorts.

I do not have a direct lease arrangement with an Alpine Resort Management Board. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes. Businesses who hold a sub-lease are eligible to apply if the service charge component under their lease arrangement is $50,000 or more per year, and they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Businesses will be asked to provide evidence of their service charge component through the most recent rental receipt or signed sub-lease agreement.

Can accommodation businesses within a Victorian Alpine Resort apply for support?

Yes. Owners of accommodation businesses can apply if they also have a public on-site food and beverage venue or a retail outlet.

I operate a ski hire business in a town near the Alpine Resorts (for example, Mansfield or Bright). Am I eligible for a grant under Stream 3 of the program?

No. Stream 3 of the Alpine Resorts Support Program supports businesses located in the Alpine Resorts only.

Can I apply for a grant if I have received prior funding support through the Victorian Government’s business support programs including Business Support Fund 3 and the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund?

Yes, however depending on the amount of funding received under these programs, you may not be eligible for an additional grant under this stream 3 of the Program.

Any business that has received funding under the Victorian Government’s Business Support Fund Round 3, and/or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund will have this funding amount deducted from the maximum $25,000 available under this program.

The maximum amount of funding you can receive is $25,000 combined.

How long will you take to process my application?

We will endeavour to process all applications within 20 business days of the program closing (11:59pm on 10 June 2021).

I have more than one business, can I receive more than one Alpine Resorts Support Program grant?

If you have more than one business registered with different ABNs and they can individually meet the relevant criteria, you may be eligible for a grant for each business. You need to submit a separate application for each business.

What should I do if I accidentally submit two applications? How can I retract one?

Each business as identified by its ABN, is eligible to receive only one grant of up to $25,000.

If you have accidentally submitted two applications for one business (i.e. under one ABN), you do not need to retract one — if the business is deemed eligible we will only pay one grant for that ABN.

Why do I need to have an Australian Business Number (ABN) to be eligible?

The Alpine Resorts Support Program – Stream 3 is designed to support businesses in the Alpine Resorts that were impacted by ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions in Victoria. There are currently no plans to extend the program to providers without an Australian Business Number (ABN).

Will payments made under the Alpine Resorts Support Program – Stream 3 be subject to a future audit?

Yes.

Successful applicants for the Alpine Resorts Support Program — Stream 2 may be subject to an audit by the Victorian Government or its representatives for a period of four years after the grant was approved.

This will require you to produce evidence of meeting the eligibility criteria at the time of application.

Do I need to change my business address to the address where my ABN is registered?

No, the address listed against an ABN is not the primary method for verifying a business address in your application.

The primary method of confirming business location in an Alpine Resort will be through the four Alpine Resort Management Boards.

How will you use the information I provide?

The Department will verify the information you supply us with the relevant regulator to ensure the business is active, legitimate, does not have any adverse charges and meets the eligibility criteria.

How do I register with the responsible federal or state regulator?

Visit:

• Registering a Business if you are a business
• myCAV Accounts if you are an incorporated association.

What are the responsible Commonwealth and State regulators that a business needs to be registered with?

For the purpose of the Alpine Resorts Support Program — Stream 3, businesses must be registered with the responsible State or Federal regulators, where they are required to be by relevant and applicable law.

Charities or not-for-profit organisations must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Incorporated associations must be registered with Consumers Affairs Victoria (CAV).

Generally, a business is defined as an entity with a business name registered with the Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC).

However, some entity types and structures may not be required to register with ASIC. Some examples where you do not need to register your business name with ASIC include:

• a sole trader or partnership trading under its legal name – that is, the individual(s) personal legal name(s)
• a trust operating as a business under the same legal name as the trust (the legal name of the trust when registered).

Further information on registering a business is available on the Australian Government website.

You must ensure your business’ registration is current before you apply.

If your business is not registered with the required regulators when you apply, it will not be eligible to receive a grant.

Why does my business need to be registered for GST to be eligible for the Alpine Resorts Support Program — Stream 3 grant?

To be eligible for a grant under the program a business must be registered for GST as at 13 September 2020.

The Alpine Resorts Support Program - Stream 3 Program was created to provide financial support to  businesses in Victoria’s Alpine Resorts. A business must register for GST when it has a GST turnover (gross income minus GST) of $75,000 or more. For the purposes of the program, GST registration and its associated obligations indicate the business was a bona fide business operating prior to 13 September 2020. It also provides a signal that the business has a large enough turnover to be an employer.

Are not-for-profit businesses that are not required to be registered for GST eligible to apply for the Alpine Resorts Support Program — Stream 2 grant?

Charities and not-for -profit organisations that were registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC) as at 13 September 2020 and have an annual revenue between $75,000 and $150,000 may apply for the grant, if they meet the other eligibility criteria in the guidelines.

The application form allows for applicants to confirm that they are a not-for-profit within the annual revenue band that is registered with the ACNC.

Not-for-profit businesses are only required to register for GST if they have a revenue of more than $150,000.

I received an email stating ‘Application failed Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) check’. What does this mean?

As part of the grants assessment process, we check with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). If you receive this email, the check has found that your business name is not registered, the registered name does not match the name you provided on your application, or there has been an adverse finding against your business.

An adverse finding is taken into consideration when processing grant applications.

I have not heard about my application. Is it still being considered?

We aim to provide applicants with the outcome of their application within 20 business days following the close of the program.

Delays may happen if:

• the application does not meet all criteria outlined in the guidelines
• you have not submitted the requested supporting documentation
• the submitted documentation, such as utilities bill or banking information is incorrect
• the application has been returned to you for amendments
• more than one application has been submitted for the same business
• you entered incorrect details on the application form - for example, incorrect ABN and banking details (for successful applicants).

Why is it important that I attach accurate supporting documentation to my application?

A utility bill, rental receipt, lease agreement, licence agreement and/or business permit will clearly indicate your business’ physical address within an Alpine Resort and size (e.g. bed count, fully enclosed commercial area and amount of annual service charges payable).

If your supporting documentation and geographical eligibility cannot be verified, the application will be returned, and you will be asked to update your documentation.

What happens if I have submitted an application and not received any email notifications?

Your spam filter may prevent you from seeing email notifications from us. Please check your junk inbox for emails from  alpineprograms@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

You will be emailed if:

• you have not submitted the correct supporting documentation
• your application is considered eligible and you have been awarded a grant
• your application is ineligible as it does not meet the eligibility criteria of the program.

How do I know what the status of my application is?

Your application will appear in the Business Victoria Grants Portal as one of five statuses:

• draft — you have started an application
• submitted — you have accepted the terms and conditions and submitted
• under assessment — your application has been received and is being assessed by the Business Victoria team
• successful — your application was successful
• unsuccessful — your application was unsuccessful.

After your application has been submitted, you will receive notification of its progress. We cannot contact you while your application remains in ‘draft’, as you haven’t yet provided permission for the department to use your contact details.

What if I need any further assistance?

For further assistance please contact us or call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.