The Geelong Small Business Festival is now underway after a magnificent launch event at GMHBA Stadium last week.
It was wonderful listening to guest speaker Cherie Clonan talk about her journey and launching her own business, The Digital Picnic, nine years ago.
There are many similar stories to Cherie’s across the region, and it is that spirit of entrepreneurism that thrives among events at the festival.
In person and online activities are being held across the whole month, meaning there is still ample opportunities to get involved.
The importance of this festival – and more to the point the role small business play in our community – cannot be overstated.
For example, there is much that has been made of our growing population, and the new communities that are forming as a result.
But these communities can only thrive if residents can secure work in the local area and thankfully, that is what we have been seeing across Greater Geelong.
In 2022 we welcomed 2,172 new businesses to the region, which helped create more than 12,100 jobs – the fastest jobs growth seen among Australian regional cities.
The small business sector is driving the prosperity of our community, contributing $9 billion to the regional economy, and the Geelong Small Business Festival celebrates the contribution of these businesses, and supports our operators, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
This year, the City of Greater Geelong has partnered with the Geelong Chamber of Commerce to deliver the festival.
This partnership supports the continued growth and evolution of the program, with more than 70 free and low-cost events, workshops and presentations on offer.
I encourage local business operators and entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their networks, be inspired, and learn how they can grow their operations, to visit the festival website (gsbf.com.au/) and see how they can get involved.
