By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
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\u2019s businesses.<\/p>\n
The $20,000 was provided under Round 3 of Business Victoria\u2019s \u2018Business Chambers & Trader Groups Program\u2019, and will go towards implementing the first year of the Chamber\u2019s 5 Year Strategic Plan.<\/p>\n
President of the Chamber Dr Michael Ryan, thanked Business Victoria for the funding, and said without such grants, the Chamber simply \u201cwouldn\u2019t be able to do anything of consequence\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis money will help us to implement the first year of our Strategic Plan we\u2019ve 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 \u2013 this $20,000 will help us engage a facilitator to engage in the first year of that Plan,\u201d Dr Ryan told the Moorabool News.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are five steps to the plan, five key directions: membership drive, events and promotions, setting up efficient digital marketing, streetscape, and tourism. We\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chamber also received a grant from the Business Chambers and Trader Groups Program in Round One, allowing it to update its website.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe philosophy of the grant is to make sure smaller communities like Ballan. and others around it, aren\u2019t forgotten in the grand scheme of things, and all the money doesn\u2019t go to the cities. I personally think it\u2019s a fantastic program,\u201d Dr Ryan said.<\/p>\n
To view the Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce\u2019s 5 Year Strategic Plan, visit ballanchamberofcommerce.com.au\/initiatives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s businesses. The $20,000 was provided under Round 3 of Business Victoria\u2019s \u2018Business Chambers & Trader Groups Program\u2019, and will go towards implementing the first year […]<\/p>\n