State grant supports Chamber event at business festival

A VICTORIAN government grant supported an event at this year’s Geelong Small Business Festival that put local produce and local producers in the spotlight.

The Geelong Chamber of Commerce received a grant of $50,000 through the Regional Activation Grants Program to help promote and increase awareness of Victorian-made food and beverages at the festival’s launch event.

Now in its 14th year, the Geelong Small Business Festival is attended by more than 2500 people each year, and brings together more than 70 small businesses to connect, collaborate and host events.

Yesterday’s (Thursday, August 8) launch featured ‘The Paddock’, an immersive experience that highlighted the region’s vibrant agribusiness sector.

Attendees engaged with producers, sampled their unique offerings, and learnt about the sustainable practices that make Geelong’s agri-producers stand out.

Producers on show included Ocean Grove cultured butter producer Lard Ass Butter, Irrewarra Sourdough, Geelong Region and Mt Moriac Olives, Meredith Dairy, Bellarine Distillery, and St Albans Park juice maker Juice Culture.

“The Geelong Small Business Festival Launch event, proudly sponsored by Morris and in collaboration with the City of Greater Geelong, is one of the premier business events on the annual calendar,” Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Jeremy Crawford said.

“It has been further enriched through the support of Agriculture Victoria, with this grant enabling local agri-producers to participate and showcase their businesses, products and services to our vibrant business community.”

The Regional Activation Grants Program is part of the Vic Grown initiative, which helps get more Victorian produce on even more plates.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced the grant on Friday last week.

“Local producers make up the identity of our towns and regions and play an integral role in our small business community; we are investing in our local economy and supporting the regions’ strong agriculture sector,” she said.

For more information about the Regional Activation Grants Program, head to agriculture.vic.gov.au