It's been a complex and challenging start to the year to say the least, but we have also seen incredible resilience and tenacity among our industry operators as we navigate this uncertain time. Please remember that your friendly RTO (that's us!) is here to help and support you where we can. We continue to relay your feedback through to decision-makers and government, so if you have something to add to those conversations, please get in touch.
All the best,
Alex, Liz, Nat, Susie and Tash
GRANTS & FUNDING
Current support - a brief summary
COVID-19 Business Impact Support Program – for businesses whose business operations have been impacted due to critical staff being required to isolate or quarantine, being forced to close due to a Public Health direction or suffered a significant reduction in demand.
COVID-19 Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program – for small businesses to access specialist financial services to assist in business recovery, transition, growth, or application of other strategies to address the impacts of COVID-19.
Business Growth Loan Scheme - concessional loan funding to support businesses to recover, adapt, grow and develop enhanced business models that support employment retention and business growth, and new projects that contribute towards employment and growth of the Tasmanian economy. N.B. The minimum loan amount is $20 000.
Tourism Development Loan Scheme - concessional loan funding to support the improvement and development of tourism products and experiences that support Tasmania’s position as a sought-after and leading Australia destination as the economy re-builds from COVID-19 and travel returns to normal. N.B. The minimum loan amount is $50 000.
Event Ready Grant - to support event organisers to address the additional needs, demands and costs associated with planning and delivering safe events in a COVID-19 impacted environment.
Regional Hospitality Revival Fund - assists eligible businesses up to a capped amount of $1 500 for costs associated with live performances, event staging, minor works and marketing activities that assist in driving visitation to regional areas. Closes this Monday, 31 January.
As always, Business Tasmania is your go-to for the details of the support packages available.
TasPorts Community Grant Program
The Community Grant Program is TasPorts' way of giving back to the community by supporting local organisations, community groups and events that benefit communities surrounding their port operations.
Grants of up to $5,000 are available, as well as in-kind support for venue hire fees and civic banner installation.
City of Hobart Business Support
To support businesses impacted by COVID, the City of Hobart has waived fees charged to restaurants, bar and café owners for the use of public spaces as outdoor dining areas for three months until the end of March.
It is also waiving application fees for businesses wishing to create or expand COVID-safe outdoor dining areas for the same period: 1 January 2022 until 31 March 2022.
It is hoped the changes will help businesses create new spaces in which people can stay connected, see friends and family in COVID-safer environments while supporting Hobart businesses.
VXT has scheduled a range of courses throughout Tasmania and will continue to plan more over the coming months. Introduction to Food and Beverage Service and Introduction to Bar Operations are both three-day courses, and are targeted at new entrants into the industry. For $50 per person, it's a great opportunity to expand your workforce and give a leg-up to people wanting to enter the industry.
Over the next few months, courses will be delivered in Hobart, New Norfolk, Sorell and Port Arthur. You can view the full course schedule HERE.
Additional courses can be scheduled for businesses or groups with the delivery times and locations modified to suit each cohort. Contact VXT to discuss your needs: info@vxt.org.au, or call Katrina 0497 473 848 or CEO, Emilie 0417 105 398.
TCCI Training Update
The TCCI has hit the ground running on its 2022 training program. We highly recommend a look at the latest update which includes networking opportunities, management masterclasses, leadership workshops, mental health first aid training, and an online harvest workforce information session (very handy for the growers and producers among us who are looking for pickers). The TCCI will also customise workplace training courses to meet the specific needs of individual businesses. Take a few minutes to read through the training update HERE.
Don’t forget that your DST financial membership includes a basic membership with the TCCI, to help you access discounts and support in the HR and IR area.
Off Season Webinar
Join Tourism Tasmania Industry Manager Sam Denmead and BMF Australia Group Planning Director Thomasine Burnap for a statewide industry webinar to prepare your business for 2022's Off Season.
The webinar will cover:
A first look at the Off Season marketing campaign
Tips on how you can participate in this years' Off Season program
Examples, ideas and resources to inspire your Off Season involvement, and
A demonstration of how to create and upload your own Off Season offer.
When: Wednesday 9 February | 10.30am–11.30am Register HERE.
Images: Big Willie at Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival, Natalie Mendham; and fun in the snow c/- Laura Halle and Tourism Tasmania.
MARKETING
Hobart & Beyond
In the coming weeks we will be officially announcing the launch of our new website to our consumer audiences through a promotional campaign. The campaign objective is to increase our consumer database so that we can begin a regular eDM to our audiences.
This will give us a new channel to promote your businesses to potential visitors, and drive traffic to the new website. More details to come!
Please help with our upcoming blog
You can find our latest blog, What's on along the Heritage HighwayHERE, but currently, we're working on an updated blog on Tasmanian goodies available for purchase online that may either serve to keep the memories alive for previous visitors or deepen the interest for aspiring visitors. It will also hopefully remind low-lying Tasmanians that if they aren't getting out and about much at the moment, this is a way they can still support their favourite producers. If you have a comprehensive and user-friendly online shop, let us know so you can be included!
SUMMER EVENTS
Mona Foma 2022
After a fantastic weekend in Launceston last weekend, Mona Foma 2022 is literally around the corner in nipaluna/Hobart. In fact, some exhibitions have already begun. There's plenty going on, including heaps of free stuff.
You can view the 2022 Mona Foma program HERE, and the Hobart and Beyond guide to Mona Foma HERE.
ARTBOX
From Monday 10 January the Huon Valley Council’s ARTBOX has been relocated to Mawson Place on the Hobart waterfront. Artbox features a collaborative exhibition of painting, music and words dedicated to the Hartz Mountains. The exhibition is called Suspended Breath: A Hartz Journey. The artists, Kat Scarlet, Gareth Dawson and Jane Rawson, all live in the Huon Valley. Ever since its inception in August 2020, ARTBOX has only ever roamed the Huon Valley, but now it's travelling further afield. ARTBOX is a shipping container kitted out as an art gallery with a large viewing window. It is equipped with two solar panels on the roof and lights are on a timer so exhibitions can be viewed after dark.
Highlands to Harbours, Jan 2022 edition, Destination Southern Tasmania, PO Box 184, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia, 6223 5650
