Eleven businesses share in innovation grants
Explore Councils by state
Published on 18 December 2019
Startups and established businesses will help build the local economy with almost $50,000 from our Innovation and Entrepreneur Program.
At its final meeting for 2019, Council approved grants for various innovation and entrepreneurial projects ranging from building upgrades, information technology advances, diversification of businesses and infrastructure installations.
Mayor Neil Trotter said the first round from the new program showed Corangamite was an “investment friendly” council and a leader in local economic development.
“The Innovation and Entrepreneur Program aims to give new and existing local businesses an incentive to complete innovative and entrepreneurial projects that will keep them competitive and help grow to the wider Shire economy,” Cr Trotter said.
“With these grants we are working to fill a gap in funding availability to support growth in start-ups and existing small businesses.
“As the program is a new initiative, it will be reviewed and evaluated after the first year.
“It was encouraging to see that there was considerable interest in the program and that it was over-subscribed.”
Cr Trotter said the program was open to businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent staff that were based in the Shire or planned to move to the municipality within three months of applying.
“The grants were allocated on a $1:$1 basis after the applications were evaluated against a series of criteria to ensure the money was well spent to benefit the wider community.”
The successful applicants are:
Keayang Maar Vineyard ($5000) to develop and build a cellar door and retail outlet for new vineyard. ABecketts Creek Cooperage ($5000) to develop a new cooperage business. REAL: Pizza, Pasta & Salads ($2093.37) for refurbishments as part of new restaurant, providing dedicated space for workshops; Terang Fitness ($5000) to install a virtual group fitness studio; Snout in the Trough ($4329.81) for a new dining option with extended trading, use of outdoor space, increased capacity, safety upgrades and equipment purchases; Timboon Fine Ice Cream ($4952.20) to build a footbridge to support business connection, access and safety; Martin's Timber & Hardware ($5000) to develop e-commerce through introduction of digital and social media sales; Poole Plumbing ($2245.62) to buy equipment and train staff to offer more services; Camperdown WellNest ($5000) to build a secure outdoor area with children's play space; Mogulnet: ($5000) to buy IT equipment to support business co-working and meeting hire space; and Bridges Metal Works ($5000) to buy tools for new business startup.