New Google deal a win for local businesses

A NEW deal between a local media company and Google is set to feed revenue back into local businesses according to one of Armstrong Creek’s prominent developers.

Last week Times News Group signed a publisher agreement with Google News Showcase in a deal that Mark Casey called a real win for regional communities.

Mr Casey, from the Casey Consulting Group behind the east precinct and town centre developments in Armstrong Creek, helped create the Torquay-based media company and remains a director along with Warick Brown and Nick Abbott.

The trio have grown the local paper to seven mastheads focusing on providing free community-based news across the Surf Coast Times, Bellarine Times, Armstrong Creek Times, Ballarat Times, Golden Plains Times, Geelong Times and Bendigo Times.

“Google has the greatest coverage and for them to feed community news into the marketplace is not only vital for keeping people at the forefront of information, but it also drives revenues back into our community,” Mr Casey said.

“The new deal will have a positive impact for regional communities as they aren’t going to be left behind in the big machine of the large news groups.

“Businesses that advertise with us will get greater exposure and won’t have to compete with large multi-billion-dollar corporations that take up the most advertising space.

“I think it is important people like Facebook and Google do have a focus on regional towns and make sure that a fair share of the revenue generated from there finds its way back into those communities and this is one way Google is doing their part.”

Mr Casey, who has been heavily involved in the Armstrong Creek area, said the rapidly growing town needed to have its own voice.

“Essentially, we set up Armstrong Creek Times to keep people updated in the community and this Google deal will only enhance that relationship,” he said.

“Under this deal, community news will come out continuously and people will have to access to updated information about what is happening in their local area, so that is another real win.”