Minister Barr: ChooseCBR to boost local business during COVID-19 pandemic
- Written by ACT Government
Released 23/11/2020 - Joint media release
As part of the ACT Government COVID-19 economic jobs and economic recovery plan more support will be provided to encourage Canberrans to choose local.
From today, eligible local businesses across Canberra can register to participate in ChooseCBR, a digital discount voucher initiative designed to encourage spending at local businesses. The Canberra community can also sign up from today to redeem the discounts, which can be used at participating businesses from Wednesday 9 December.
The Canberra community has responded well to the pandemic so far, and that has allowed many businesses to reopen over the past few months.
However, the pandemic is not over and the ACT Government will continue to support local businesses to keep the economy moving and keep people in jobs. This is one part of our plan to create and protect over 250,000 local jobs by 2025.
The program, which was an ACT Labor election commitment, will support local businesses across a range of industries, including retail, tourism, accommodation, arts and recreation, personal services and hospitality sectors, all of which have been significantly affected by COVID-19.
Minister for Business and Better Regulation Tara Cheyne said the ACT Government will trial the program with an initial $500,000 worth of discounts.
“The program will offer anyone over 18 up to $40 worth of discounts each day if they spend over a certain amount of money at participating businesses. The program will be open until 21 December or until the $500,000 allocation is exhausted,” Minister Cheyne said.
The program is modelled on a successful City of Darwin program ‘myDarwin’ which found that for every $1 of government spending, businesses benefited by between $4 revenue up to $6 revenue. This means the ChooseCBR trial could provide up to around $3 million worth of stimulus to the ACT economy at a time when we need it most.
To be able to participate, businesses must:
- have a physical shopfront in the ACT; and
- have received JobKeeper payments during 2020; and
- be in the retail, tourism and accommodation, arts and recreation, personal services and hospitality sectors (as per ANZSIC codes); and
- have less than $10 million in turnover per annum.
“Businesses and community members can both register for the program from today by going to https://choosecbr.act.gov.au/. Businesses fill in a simple application, which will then be assessed. Eligible businesses will go into the ChooseCBR business directory,” Minister Cheyne said.
“The community can sign up from today, with the program open to anyone over the age of 18, including both locals and visitors.
“From 9 December, consumers will be able to login to the ChooseCBR website to access a range of vouchers worth $2.50, $5, $10 and $20.
“There is a minimum spend to be able to use the vouchers. ChooseCBR discounts can be used for any transactions at eligible businesses, however they can’t be redeemed for alcohol, tobacco, or gaming products.“
As Christmas fast approaches, this is a great way for businesses to get a bit of extra support after a difficult year.
“The program is designed to help local businesses to get more customers in the door and start the road to recovery. We’re encouraging Canberrans to get involved, particularly as we get close to the holiday season,” said Minister Cheyne.
Vouchers will be able to be redeemed at participating businesses from Wednesday 9 December.
The ACT Government will evaluate the ChooseCBR trial before an expected rollout of the full program early next year.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA Tara Cheyne, MLA | Media Releases
