Be.Bendigo chief executive Dennis Bice said the organisation was planning for what would happen once JobKeeper ended.

But while Be.Bendigo knew the local economy would be affected, Mr Bice believed the true impacts would only be known beyond March.

More than 3200 organisations in Bendigo's four main postcodes - 3550, 3551, 3555 and 3556 - applied for JobKeeper at the height of the scheme.

Almost 1700 organisations applied for JobKeeper in the two months after the scheme was extended.

Data from December onward has yet to be made available by postcode.

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Applications from businesses in the Bendigo area peaked in August, but had been nearing or over 3000 from May until JobKeeper's rules changed in September.

More than 2700 Bendigo organisations sought support from JobKeeper within the scheme's first month.

Mr Bice said businesses had been dropping off JobKeeper along the way, and just because others were still receiving payments didn't mean they wouldn't survive without them.

"Be.Bendigo would like to think there is some support for the vulnerable businesses going forward," he said.

What that model would look like, Be.Bendigo did not know.

Mr Bice said JobKeeper was "the best model we've got at the moment."

But Be.Bendigo knew that sort of support could not continue indefinitely, and Mr Bice did not believe it should continue in its current format.

"What we need to think about is what are the options for the most affected industries," he said.

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He said Be.Bendigo had been asking itself what it could do to drive activity towards Bendigo businesses, particularly those in vulnerable sectors such as hospitality, tourism, and travel.

Be.Bendigo was working with the City of Greater Bendigo on events that could promote business for hospitality, tourism and travel operators.

It was also working with training providers to ensure the courses offered aligned with the skills employers were seeking from graduates, and liaising with hospitality businesses about some of the challenges facing their industry, including finding staff.

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