Strengthening small business across the Bellarine

ACROSS the Bellarine, small businesses do a huge amount of heavy lifting in our local communities.

They sponsor local sport, employ our people, as well as activate our shopping strips and help give our towns their personality.

As chair of the Economic Development portfolio, I know strong local businesses are critical to thriving town centres and the long-term success of our community.

Whether it’s a cafe in Ocean Grove, a tradie in Drysdale, a boutique retailer in Portarlington or somebody launching a home-based business for the first time, small business owners are helping drive the local economy every day.

But behind the scenes, many operators are also trying to navigate rising costs, staffing shortages, marketing pressures and increasingly complicated regulations.

That’s why I’m pleased to highlight a range of practical business support initiatives offered by the City of Greater Geelong’s Business Support team to help businesses start, grow and thrive.

Council’s free Business Concierge service provides a dedicated central point for new and existing business owners and entrepreneurs to ask questions and get advice on council permits and regulations.

Last year alone, the service handled 445 enquiries, with food and drink businesses among the most common.

Whether you’re setting up a business or an existing business, the council’s Business Support team are here to help with economic data insights, local workshops, mentoring opportunities and trusted resources.

Businesses can also seek advice about grants and funding opportunities or find information on events such as Geelong Small Business Festival, which is held annually in August.

There’s even support for investors looking to come to Greater Geelong.

There’s a Business Support Drop-in Session scheduled at the Ocean Grove Library on Tuesday 28 July between 11am and 3pm.

You can book a free one-on-one appointment for tailored support or just drop in anytime during the day to chat with our friendly team.

Another strong initiative is the new Multicultural Business Hub program being delivered by Cultura in partnership with GravIT and The Gordon and is proudly supported by the City of Greater Geelong.

This six-month program will support multicultural entrepreneurs through practical workshops, networking opportunities and one-on-one mentoring tailored to their goals and business journey.

Greater Geelong’s diversity is one of our strengths and supporting people with the skills and ambition to build successful businesses locally benefits the entire region.

Expressions of interest for the program close on 8 June.

There are also several free workshops coming up focused on areas many business owners tell me they want more support with.

On 25 May, the City of Greater Geelong is hosting a LinkedIn for Business workshop at Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct.

This workshop is designed to be practical and hands-on, helping business owners improve their profiles, better understand content and build confidence using the platform.

Then on 12 June, there will be a content creation, storytelling and social media workshop led by award-winning creator Luke Goodall.

Social media and short-form video now play a major role in how businesses connect with customers, yet many operators still feel unsure where to begin.

Both programs are designed to support business owners with practical tools, advice and connections.

Backing local business in this way is one of the smartest investments we can make in Geelong’s future.

For more information on any of these programs, visit geelongcity.vic.gov.au/business