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Support For Horsham Small Businesses Coping With Drought

22 July 2016

Small businesses feeling the economic impacts of drought can access support at a series of small business workshops and mentoring sessions from next week.

Small businesses in Horsham are encouraged to attend a tailored workshop to equip them with better information and tools to make more informed business decisions.

The free workshops have been developed by Small Business Victoria in partnership with the Wimmera Development Association, the Wimmera Business Centre and Business Horsham.

Similar workshops will be rolled out across the state to provide support to some of the 130,000 regional small businesses facing hardship in the agricultural and retail sectors.

Victorian small businesses are vital for the economy generating more than 30 per cent of the state’s goods and services and providing almost 50 per cent of private sector jobs.

With 28 per cent of small businesses located in regional Victoria, they are the backbone of many local economies.

In November last year, the Andrews Labor Government announced $27 million of support for drought affected communities in regional Victoria as part of its Drought Response Package.

Additional counsellors were funded to help the Rural Financial Counselling Service provide expanded services to primary producers, fishers, and rural small businesses experiencing financial hardship.

For those who could not readily access the service, two more dedicated small business counsellors were set up in north and west Victoria.

The two-hour Small Business Resilience Workshop will be held at the Reception Room at Horsham Rural City Council, Roberts Avenue Horsham, at 7pm on Wednesday 27 July 2016.

Bookings for workshop sessions are essential and can be made at www.business.vic.gov.au/eventsExternal Link or 13 22 55.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our rural and regional economies and we are ensuring that those businesses in Victoria’s drought-affected communities are getting the right support when they need it most.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford

“We’re standing side by side with our resilient small business community throughout drought affected areas of the state, to make sure regional communities can get back on their feet.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney

“We know that this is a tough time for all Victorians affected by the economic impacts of drought and that’s why we’re delivering workshops and support to business people in the Horsham region during this tough time.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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