BuySurfCoast Initiative
Local business are making changes to their services as they adapt to the restrictions that are currently in place to protect our community from COVID-19. Many have changed their hours of operation and are offering new online, no contact and delivery options to meet their customers’ needs. The impact of restrictions on businesses has been very tough. Surf Coast’s #BuySurfCoast initiative encourages locals to buy local wherever they can.
The process behind the campaign includes:
- ‘Taking Care of Business’ survey – set up 2 days after the first of the Covid-19 Shutdown Restrictions to capture details on businesses that were still open and altering their service offering and identify the businesses that were in distress and needed 1-1 advice.
- The website BuySurfCoast.com was set up 4 days after the first of the Covid-19 Shutdown Restrictions to connect businesses who were still open to a new customer base of local residents who were in self isolation at home.
- The website was supported by a social media campaign, a weekly full page ad in the local newspaper and by promoting the page via the many other Covid-19 business support groups (e.g. Local Takeway) that popped up on Facebook.
- It was resourced by an expanded Business Support Team including the Economic Development unit staff, VIC staff and several strategic planners.
>> View videos about both the survey and the BuySurfCoast initiative
>> Visit the BuySurfCoast website
TEMPLATE: Melton City Council – Survey Template for ED Staff
Script / template to use as a guide when talking to businesses to capture their information and steer them in the right direction for help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tourism Recovery After Disaster
Late 2019 and early 2020 saw unprecedented upheaval in Australia as a result of devastating bushfires and the COVID-19 lockdown. While all sectors have been affected by COVID-19, the tourism industry has been heavily impacted by both events, and it is important to understand
more about tourism recovery from crises.
This Literature Review by KPPM sources relevant material from the academic (peer reviewed) literature and, based mainly on this information (i.e. not including Government policies or strategies, grey (web-based) literature or primary research), proposes actions to support immediate post COVID-19 recovery. The Literature Review is intended to provide information that is not readily available outside of the university sector and therefore should be seen as one element in a range of considerations that underpin policy and sector recovery efforts.
How can I measure the economic impact of COVID-19 for my staff?
by REMPLAN
Australia’s federal, state and local governments are now designing and delivering the largest peace-time economic stimulus packages in our nation’s history. Our role will be to help our clients understand the implications of COVID-19 at region and industry sector levels, to assist in guiding policy and directing resources to where they are most urgently required.
Due to the complexity of staged closures and the enforced shutdown of various businesses, this is a complex undertaking. There are many factors changing on a daily basis that impact the economic base of a region.
IEDC Resources
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has worked with and spoken to affected communities around the globe to gather a collection of resources to help communities through disasters. A vast array of practical information for communities working to rebuild resilient economies following disasters is located on IEDC’s managed website, Restore Your Economy.
In particular, EDA recommends the following IEDC produced resources as a guide for EDA members involved in disaster recovery:
Leadership in times of Crisis Toolkit (PDF)
In disaster-impacted communities, EDOs are in a position to lead economic recovery efforts by helping local businesses respond to impacts on their employees, their facilities, their customers and supply networks. However, all too often, economic recovery efforts are plagued by reactionary activities rather than a planned and strategic response. The key to a more rapid recovery is to take steps ahead of time to ensure your organization can fulfil the needs of the community after any type of major incident. This toolkit will help EDA members to set up a plan of action to be a resilient community, to respond more effectively to the economic aspects of disasters and to lead in efforts at recovery.
>> Download the Crisis Tookit here
Practical Advice for Transitioning to Recovery
Another great IEDC resource to provide assistance to economic development professionals involved in disaster recovery.
The Business Continuity Handbook
The Business Continuity Handbook by IEDC was produced to assist US firms planning for future crises and equipping businesses with the tools needed to survive threats, emergencies and disasters. It centres on establishing recovery strategies for critical business functions and making contingency plans to continue operations under different types of disasters.
IEDC Webinars:
- Guiding Your Community Image and Brand Through a Disaster
- Priority Economic Recovery Actions
- Retaining Businesses after a crisis
- Developing an entrepreneurship ecosystem for resilience
A Business Civic Leadership Centre Report
2010 Disaster Report: A Decade of Disasters is a compilation of lessons learned from disasters over the past ten years and a look ahead at the future of disaster management over the next decade. It is designed to catalogue and share best practices.
Sunshine Coast Council
Emergency Event Economic Recovery Manual
Sunshine Coast Council, in partnership with an independent Disaster Management consultancy firm, developed an Emergency Event Economic Recovery Manual detailing the contingency plans for economic disaster recovery services for businesses. This document details both operational and functional strategies concerning economic recovery mechanisms for the Sunshine Coast region in the event of a natural disaster.
This manual may provide guidance now, or into the future for EDA Members.
Professional Advice Support Program
The Professional Advice Support Program is designed to connect critically impacted local businesses to confidential professional advice to support them through the business impacts resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. Eligible businesses will be able to access up to one (1) hour of professional advice at no charge
Adelaide Region, SA
City of Holdfast Bay
City of Holdfast Bay have developed a business directory on their website to assist local businesses in staying visible.
>> View the Business Directory
Southern Business Mentoring Program
The Southern Business Mentoring Program is available to businesses, including start-ups, operating within the City of Marion, City of Onkaparinga and City of Holdfast Bay. The program provides for one hour one-on-one consultations, via electronic devices with a business advisor and connection to specialised services and advice including strategic marketing, digital marketing, HR, innovation & transformation, international trade & export.
Western Alliance of Councils
Adelaide Business Hub has put together practical support services to help small business owners in Western Adelaide solve problems, meet challenges and receive up to date information during this crisis. Most importantly, there is also a new triage business helpline that supports businesses in stress eg. financial, cashflow, resilience.
City of Parramatta
City of Parramatta Council has announced a suite of measures worth more than $3 million to help thousands of local residents and businesses doing it tough due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the $3 million package will be rolled out in the next three months, with Council already delivering a number of measures.
The package includes measures for business, jobs, community groups & local services, community and staff.
City of Melbourne
The City of Melbourne has announced a local economic package to support city businesses affected by COVID-19, with a range of supports including:
-
- grants to develop online and e-services
- one-on-one advice and support through our expanded COVID-19 Business Concierge Hotline
- halving rent for eligible tenants in Council-owned buildings for three months
- suspending fees for street trading permits for three months
- reduced registration fee for food businesses
- a new Rates Financial Hardship Policy
- a new General Financial Hardship Policy
- a virtual business support summit
City of Hobart
The City of Hobart offers business grants designed to assist small business as well as the wider community by providing financial assistance for marketing activities.
eCommerce Support Grants are quick response funding for small retail businesses affected by COVID-19. These grants cover fees that are associated with selling goods online (ecommerce).
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR)
AIDR develops, maintains and shares knowledge and learning to support a disaster resilient Australia. Building on extensive knowledge and experience in Australia and internationally, we work with government, communities, NGOs, not-for-profits, research organisations, education partners and the private sector to enhance disaster resilience through innovative thinking, professional development and knowledge sharing.
Rockhampton Regional Council
Case Study – Cyclone Maria: Rockhampton Regional Council’s Business Recovery and Resilience Plan
Logan City Council
>> How to prepare your business in the most effective way to reduce the impacts of a disaster.
>> Recovering from a disaster.
Business Continuity Plan Template
The purpose of developing a Business Continuity Plan is to ensure the continuation of your business during and following any critical incident that should result in disruption to your normal operational capability. This guide will assist you to undertake a Risk Management Plan and Business Impact Analysis, and create Incident Response and Recovery Plans for your business.
Bushfire Preparation Checklist (for Business)
This bushfire preparation checklist will help you to prepare your business for bushfire. Knowing your business has strategies in place to help cope with a natural disaster like a bushfire should make it easier for your business to minimise losses, maintain business continuity and recover quickly.
Top 10 Tips to Prepare Your Business Ahead of a Disaster
Like the rest of Australia, Logan is not immune to the threat of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods, heatwaves, landslides and severe weather. By actively preparing for disasters, you can help your business continue to operate and recover quickly. There are key activities that you can do to ensure your business is prepared.
Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia (CCIWA), in conjunction with the Office of Emergency Management under the All West Australians Reducing Emergencies (AWARE) grant program, has updated and published free of charge to members and non-members its Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Workbook.
CPA Australia
- Disaster Recovery Case Study: How one business reshaped itself following a disaster
- Disaster Recovery Toolkit – Steps to Recovery
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
This issue of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management focuses on recovery and how we best support people and communities post-disaster.
The University of Melbourne: Beyond Bushfires Study
The Beyond Bushfires: Community Resilience and Recovery study was conducted to examine the impacts of the Black Saturday and related bushfires of February 2009 on community members’ physical and mental health and wellbeing.
TEMPLATE: Economic Impact Assessment
An economic impact assessment to assist in asking your local businesses about the effects that COVID-19 is having in your local area.
>> Download the Excel template
Wyndham City Council: Response to COVID-19
Wyndham City’s WynLocal Economic Support Package will comprise three main categories of programs for an aggregate value of up to $5M:
- Program 1: Small Business Grant Program
- Program 2: Rates, Fees & Charges
- Program 3: Economic Strengthening & Community Development
How to support your business through event-triggered economic downturn
Manningham Business have provided a comprehensive list of resources and support available to support businesses affected by COVID-19 in Victoria.
Murrundindi Shire Council
Restore your Business Community – Practitioner’s Handbook (PDF)
This handbook has been developed by Murrindindi Shire Council to capture lessons learned, tips and resources to guide practitioners in helping their business communities through disaster planning, response and recovery. Thank you to Bob Elkington, Murrindindi Shire Council.
TCI Network
- Webinar recording: TCI Members Gathering April 2020