Mario’s Pizza and Pasta was among the many businesses disrupted by flooding in Mooroopna last month.

When floods hit his local area, owner Krutarth Patel and his team were busy supporting their community by handing out free pizzas to feed Victorian State Emergency Service teams and community volunteers.

“Supporting the local community is our main goal,” he says.

Flood waters soon swept through the pizza shop, damaging appliances and stock – forcing the business to stop trading.

Thanks to a $5000 grant from the Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program, Mario’s has now reopened.

The Business Victoria grant allowed him to hire an electrician and cleaners and to buy new stock.

“We are so thankful for the $5000 grant so we can start trading again.”

Support for eligible flood-affected businesses has now been boosted through the Business and Community Sport Recovery Grants. These new grants provide up to $50,000 and applications are now open.

To apply for the Flood Recovery Grant, you need to first successfully apply for the $5000 one-off grant from either the Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program or the Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance Program.