According to a state government media release, this means more than $6 million in cash refunds for 368 businesses will go back into the local economy.

Another 2160 businesses in the Ballarat region have been paid a one-off $10,000 Business Support Fund grant for operational costs such as salaries and utilities.

READ MORE: Ballarat's retail businesses prepared for a long road back to normal

This fund provides payments for eligible businesses that have a wages bill below the payroll tax threshold.

The measures are part of the state government's Economic Survival Package, a range of measures including the payroll tax refunds, land tax deferrals and rent relief for small businesses and commercial tenants, and a $2.7 billion building works package.

In Ballarat, this includes upgrades to Miners Rest Primary and Phoenix P-12 Community College, resurfacing works on Daylesford-Ballarat Road, and removal of waste and graffiti along the Ballarat rail line.

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In a statement, local state MPs praised the measures for putting money back into the pockets of businesses.

Commerce Ballarat, in partnership with the Committee for Ballarat, the City of Ballarat, and Ballarat Regional Tourism, has been vocal in calling for additional federal government support, including extending the JobKeeper wage subsidy.

Statistics show almost 6000 jobs were lost in Ballarat between April and May.

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