Grant delivers for Chamber

By Lachlan Ellis

A $20,000 grant has been provided to the Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce, which its President says is a vital investment in the future of Ballan’s businesses.

The $20,000 was provided under Round 3 of Business Victoria’s ‘Business Chambers & Trader Groups Program’, and will go towards implementing the first year of the Chamber’s 5 Year Strategic Plan.

President of the Chamber Dr Michael Ryan, thanked Business Victoria for the funding, and said without such grants, the Chamber simply “wouldn’t be able to do anything of consequence”.

“This money will help us to implement the first year of our Strategic Plan we’ve set up for the township of Ballan and surrounds. We also got a grant from the Ballan Community Bank Investment Fund to prepare this five-year Plan – this $20,000 will help us engage a facilitator to engage in the first year of that Plan,” Dr Ryan told the Moorabool News.

“There are five steps to the plan, five key directions: membership drive, events and promotions, setting up efficient digital marketing, streetscape, and tourism. We’ll work with the Shire on this, because we want to do something with the street and obviously we have no jurisdiction over that. For example, we might be saying to Council that we think we need more seating in the main street, could you put four more benches out.”

The Chamber also received a grant from the Business Chambers and Trader Groups Program in Round One, allowing it to update its website.

“The philosophy of the grant is to make sure smaller communities like Ballan. and others around it, aren’t forgotten in the grand scheme of things, and all the money doesn’t go to the cities. I personally think it’s a fantastic program,” Dr Ryan said.

To view the Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce’s 5 Year Strategic Plan, visit ballanchamberofcommerce.com.au/initiatives.