The State Government has indicated its commitment to supporting small businesses across South Australia with two ministers meeting with the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce and small business owners in Mount Gambier on the weekend.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven and Minister for Small and Family Business Andrea Michaels discussed the economic landscape in Mount Gambier with local business owners including the unique opportunities and challenges for businesses in the region.
They also outlined the initiatives and State Government support available to local businesses delivered through the government’s $14m Small Business Strategy, a plan to future-proof and grow the state’s small business sector as a driving force of our economy.
Of the 150,000 small businesses across South Australia, 31% are located outside of metropolitan Adelaide.
A key consideration of the strategy is to ensure this significant regional cohort has equal access to business support and growth opportunities.
Initiatives tailored towards regional small business owners include Business Fundamentals Program -delivering targeted training and support in the fundamentals of owning and running a business through partner organisations in local communities with 57% of participants in regional areas; Small Business Support Officers – designated regional Business Support Officers to enable business owners to receive tailored one-on-one support from someone who understands the unique challenges and opportunities of their region and Women in Business – $4m Women in Business Program established to help women overcome barriers to starting and running a business.
The program has received a strong uptake from women across regional areas (35%) including Mount Gambier, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.
To view South Australia’s Small Business Strategy 2023 – 2030, visit https://business.sa.gov.au/strategy.
Minister Michaels said small businesses were the lifeblood of regional communities like Mount Gambier.
“The Malinauskas Government’s Small Business Strategy is designed to support South Australia’s small business sector right around the state,” she said.
“It was fantastic to discuss the opportunities and challenges being experienced by local small business owners and to be able to outline the support available with the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce members as well as other local small business owners.”
Minister Scriven said the government had long recognised the importance of the Limestone Coast regions to South Australia’s economy.
“I’m delighted that regional businesses took up the opportunity to join Minister Michaels and myself to discuss the future of growth in our region,” she said.
“The State Government’s small business strategy continues our focus on growing our regions, and the Limestone Coast is central to that.”
Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce President Candice Fennell welcomed the visit.
“The Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce is honoured to host the Ministers’ visit to Mount Gambier and engage in productive discussions about the opportunities and challenges facing our local businesses,” she said.
“It is a valuable opportunity to highlight the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive that define our community.”
Pic: Rhetorica/Kate Hill
