General News
6 May, 2021
Joint programs fund business support
TWENTY-SEVEN small businesses will share more than $106,000 after Corangamite Shire Council boosted its Small Business Assistance Program with extra COVID-19 recovery funds.
TWENTY-SEVEN small businesses will share more than $106,000 after Corangamite Shire Council boosted its Small Business Assistance Program with extra COVID-19 recovery funds.
At its monthly meeting last week, council voted to repurpose an unallocated $56,311 from its COVID-19 Economic Stimulus and Support Program.
Deputy mayor Jo Beard said council was pleased to support businesses which together employed hundreds of shire residents.
“Council is very proud of our Small Business Assistance Program which gives our residents an incentive to start or grow their business and strengthen the wider shire economy,” she said.
“It’s even more important after the difficult year caused by the pandemic.
“The fact so many businesses are looking to the future is certainly heartening.”
Local businesses to be named as funding recipients include:
Down South Crutching, Ecklin South – $1136 for equipment to enable mobile service;
Matt Clarke Gardening Services, Terang – $5000 for machinery to enable increased production;
Southwest Ultrasound, Terang – $5000 for specialised equipment to improve operations and increase service availability;
The Shed, Noorat – $2450 for construction of new outdoor eating area and seating;
Greavesy’s Fruit n Veg, Terang – $5000 for equipment to expand local product range; and
Terang Motor Inn, Terang – $4508 for refurbishments to improve accommodation.
Cr Beard said there were 48 applicants in all, proposing more than $800,000 in total works.
“Interest far exceeded what we had in the budget, but we managed to re-allocate funding from the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus and Support Package,” she said.
“That allowed us to support an additional 13 businesses with their projects.”
Officers will continue to work with any businesses which were unsuccessful to provide feedback, opportunities for improvement, business mentorship and other forms of non-financial support.
“It’s incredible when you hear about the dollar terms of what a small amount of money can then be turned into in the long term,” Cr Beard said.
“Even the applicants that missed out were still proposing some great projects and I’m glad to hear that the economic development team will continue to work with those applicants to hopefully be in the mix next time around.”
For more information about the program, call council’s economic development team on 5593 7100.