Helping hand for business networks

Three local business networks have received grants from the state government to help them move to Covid normal.

The Phillip Island, San Remo and Inverloch associations received $50,000 in total to support business initiatives.

Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale said the grants would help the associations by funding “buy local” campaigns and improving access to programs and services that focused on resilience and recovery.

“This is such welcome news for our local traders, visitors and residents alike,” Ms Crugnale said.

“These initiatives will benefit everyone and include streetscape changes, promotion of the natural environment, supporting and activating local businesses.”

She said the government was committed to assisting the recovery and rebuilding of local businesses.

“I want to thank all our local trader groups for working so collaboratively with each other and for their efforts and creativity in finding new ways to bring to life their respective townships in a Covid safe way.”

Selling San Remo

Craig Edmonds, president of the San Remo District Tourism and Business Association said their $10,000 grant would fund a three-month TV and social media campaign to promote San Remo and the surrounding area.

“It’s a campaign to highlight and sell San Remo and show we’re not just a little town you drive through on the way to the island,” he said.

The ads will showcase local businesses, the surrounding area as well as the improved outdoor dining opportunities, including additional tables on the foreshore.

Ads will run from January to March on WIN TV, including through the station’s social media channels.

“There’s no way we’d be able to do that without a grant,” Craig said.

“We don’t have the funds for that sort of thing. We’re only a small association and we lost all our events this year, which hurt the bottom line.”

There are currently about 22 members of the association and Craig is hoping more business will get on board.

“We try and provide opportunities for our members with the events. We’ve got good members who all jump in and help.”

He believes there is a great opportunity to attract new visitors to the area.

“San Remo is a perfect location, there’s a good variety of shops. If you plonked this sort of town down anywhere in Europe, it would be buzzing.”

Island boost

The newly formed Phillip Island Business Network (PIBN) received $20,000 to help members access support and make the transition to business in “Covid normal” times.

President Claire Sawatzky was very happy to secure the grant.

“As a brand-new group, it’s great to have this to work with.”

She said the grant would fund a project to “Reconnect, Resurrect and Reincarnate” the Business Network.

Communication is a key focus of the plan, to ensure the new network connected with as many businesses as possible.

This includes establishing a strong digital presence and helping members get access to the training and help they need.

“One of the first steps will be to build a brand-new website,” Claire said.

“This will include a membership portal and a business directory.”

In the second phase of the project, she said PIBN would build on a recent survey to establish what kind of workshops and training members were interested in.

Phase three would focus on highlighting the beauty of Phillip Island and promoting the area.

The “Reconnect, Resurrect and Reincarnate” project will be rolled out over the next 12 months.

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