Background        

Natural disasters can physically destroy or damage businesses directly or indirectly and cause businesses to suffer significant loss of trade.

Federal and State Government policy provides financial assistance to those businesses directly destroyed or damaged, but those indirectly impacted are not eligible for such assistance even though trade can be seriously reduced or lost completely.

Objective

The VBRF was established in March 2009 to provide short term emergency financial support for businesses adversely but indirectly impacted by natural disaster.