Business Wodonga is reeling from the loss of $80,000 in funding from Wodonga Council and is banking on incoming councillors revisiting the commitment.
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The decision not to extend funding beyond the current memorandum of understanding ending in June next year has been described as a "kick in the guts" at a time when the city's business were experiencing ongoing struggles due to COVID-19.
The decision to end funding was made as part of the 2020-21 budget deliberations and not at a council meeting.
The $80,000 annual funding represents about 33 per cent of overall funding for the organisation which employs three full-time staff members including chief executive Neil Aird.
"The fact that councillors would vote to remove funding from June 30, 2021 that supports businesses, their owners, their families and employees and indeed the wider community is frankly appalling," Business Wodonga chairman Graham Jenkin said.
"It lacks foresight for councillors to not see the benefits that a strong and connected business community brings to Wodonga.
"The leadership team of Business Wodonga is already working hard on securing funding through state and federal government, in addition to other bodies.
"Some have opined in the past that Business Wodonga has been conflicted by accepting the council funding.
"One positive of its discontinuance is that that perception, real or perceived, is now redundant.
"Business owners who have previously held that view should now be emboldened to join their business chamber."
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Wodonga Council chief executive Mark Dixon said funding was contingent on targets and activities being met.
"When our existing councillors sought to deliver a zero rate rise for our community in 2020-2021, council officers had to find ongoing resultant savings to achieve this, one of those savings was the withdrawal of future funding to Business Wodonga," he said.
"That said, future contributions remain a budgetary matter that the new council will consider when we progress to our budget build for 2021-22.
"The council also continues to work with Business Wodonga on presenting a new, more sustainable model."
Mr Jenkin encouraged Wodonga business owners, their employees and the wider community to question candidates nominated for the council election on their attitudes to business, employment and importance of a strong economy.
"Wodonga has never before needed a council with as much vision, financial nous and understanding of local issues," he said.
"We need and deserve councillors with these skills, so votes should be cast wisely after understanding what each candidate will bring to the role."
Council candidate Bernie Squire is a former Business Wodonga employee.