The Brumby Labor Government is hosting a roadshow for small businesses in Kerang tonight, free of charge.
Representing the Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Jacinta Allan, the Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad, MLC, said the Brumby Labor Government had a range of services and business assistance programs aimed at small and medium businesses.
But survey data showed that many businesses in rural and regional Victoria were unaware of those services and programs, Ms Broad said.
“To remedy this, departments and agencies of the Brumby Labor Government have collaborated to take nine roadshows to provincial Victorian towns to inform small business of the opportunities and services available to them,” she said.
“The Regional Roadshow ‘Connecting Small Business to Opportunities’ is a one-stop shop where businesses can explore a range of government assistance available, in their own region.”
The free regional road show features stands from Government agencies including Skills Victoria, Regional Development Victoria, the Australian Tax Office, Austrade, and Small Business Victoria. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions.
Each road show has a presentation by a business expert, including time for practical tips and opportunities for networking.
Kerang’s guest speaker is marketing and sales expert, Mr Rob Hartnett who will offer his expertise about Business Success.
The Kerang event is part of a tour in provincial Victoria that began with Warragul on October 7. It has also visited Warrnambool (October 21), Hamilton (October 22), Yarrawonga (October 28), Seymour (October 29), and is scheduled to visit Castlemaine (November 18), and Bacchus Marsh (November 19).
“One of the Brumby Labor Government opportunities regional businesses may not be aware of is the work to be tapped in to from the Brumby Labor Government’s 2009-10 state-wide $8 billion Nation Building infrastructure program of major capital works,” Ms Broad said.
“The road shows also showcase the programs and services offered by Skills Victoria and Small Business Victoria such as Skills for Growth and mentoring services.
“Regional Development Victoria – the Brumby Labor Government’s lead agency for the economic development of provincial Victoria – also has a great range of fantastic programs to foster investment, industry development, exports, jobs and innovation across provincial Victoria.”