Grants to help business

THREE business groups recently won grants of up to $3500 under Cardinia Shire Council’s business partnership program.
Council business development officer Philip Jackson said the program provided support to groups of local business operators.
“It will help them pursue business development projects which strengthen the local economy and help employment growth,” he said.
Cardinia Tourism was granted $3500 to publish a brochure that will promote tourism destinations within Cardinia Shire. The brochures will be delivered to 40,000 residents in the CardiniaCasey growth corridor.
Cardinia Tourism will also develop a website promoting tourism in the shire with links to Cardinia Shire Council’s website. The brochure is expected to be delivered before Christmas.
Small Farming Victoria — Rotary Club of KooweerupLang Lang was granted $3500 to deliver seminars as part of the Small Farming Field Days.
The seminars will encourage best practice in farming enterprise, equipment and products. The organisers will use the grant to provide highprofile speakers as drawcards and to provide better audio equipment and acoustic panels.
The Small Farming Field days will be held in March 2007.
Pakenham Business Group was granted $1000 to make connections with businesses in the industrial precincts adjoining Pakenham. Businesses will be encouraged to join the Business Group, which will strengthen its ability to represent business interests to the council.
The council thanked Bendigo Bank Pakenham manager Andrew Loh and Star News Group managing director Paul Thomas who helped assess applications.
A second round of the Cardinia Business Partnership Program grants will occur in early 2007.