The Victorian government is encouraging manufacturers in Geelong to invest in innovation, with a $40,000 towards local business groups.
Encouraging best practices in day-to-day business, businesses in Victoria’s second largest city are being incentivised to run development activities.
Examples of two events that are supported under this program are the Geelong Small Business Festival, run by Enterprise Geelong in August, and the Deakin University Geelong Business Excellence Awards, facilitated by the Geelong Chamber of Commerce, will give businesses a change to connect with peers and experts with the aim of increasing productivity.
In the port city there are 17,000 small businesses, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and Geelong is a hub for manufacturers involved in chemicals and refining, engineering, food and agribusiness, metal, fibre and textiles, and timber processing.
Taking regional small businesses global is the aim of the Victorian government, according to Minister for Small Business, Adem Somyurek.
“We’re funding business-focused programs and events in Geelong because we believe in providing small businesses with the right tools to help them compete in an increasingly globalised market place,” said Somyurek.
Other initiatives pursued by the state government for the benefit of businesses in the Geelong region include the Better Approvals project, which reduces complexity for businesses when they have to apply for permits.
“Through the Better Approvals project the City of Greater Geelong are working to cut red tape for local businesses which is a boost to the local economy,” said Somyurek.
At a local government level, the City of Greater Geelong provides businesses a Business Concierge. The Concierge will take on businesses and guide them through the application process, with the aim of cutting the length of application time and improving the customer experience.
While Geelong was known in the past as the site of the Ford plant, with its closure the city is attempting to shift to technologically advanced manufacturing and a sustainable manufacturing future supported by a range of companies.