Business Grants - Check out the Guidelines now! 

It's time to check if you are eligible for the next round of the popular Frankston City Business Grants! The 2024 - 2025 Guidelines are now available so you can find out if you meet the criteria to apply! Opening early September, your business could be eligible for a grant between $5,000 and $20,000!! There is up to $150,000 in business grants available. The grants are designed to help you take the next step to expand your business, grow from a home-based business to a bricks-and-mortar commercial property or relocate your business to Frankston City from another location. Since its inception the program  has helped 88 Frankston City small businesses and invested $1.26 million  helping to create economic growth and employment. 
Pic: 2023-24 grant recipients Hoop Culture. 

School to Work Forum 

More than 60 people attended the School to Work Forum at McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park last month to discuss ways of engaging the latest generation of students ready to enter the workforce. Mt Erin Secondary College, Chisholm Frankston and local businesses NetfocusIT and Burst Branding Agency formed the dynamic panel at the event sharing their strategies for engaging and retaining young talent within the local Frankston City workforce. Mayor Nathan Conroy also spoke at the breakfast highlighting the growth Frankston City is experiencing and the importance of supporting our young workers in local jobs. Attendees at the inspiring event, which was organised by the Frankston Mornington Peninsula Local Learning and Education Network, included local businesses, key stakeholders, FMPLLEN representatives, principals, educators and Frankston City Council.

Seaford Village Maker's Market 

Our Business Concierge was delighted to help local businesses get the new Seaford Village Makers Market off to a flying start! Organisers came to Council with the business idea and to better understand their requirements to deliver an awesome event, the whole community could enjoy. Organiser Holly from Creek and Bay said "it was extremely helpful to have a single point of contact who could communicate our goals to the correct Council departments." "This ensured we understood our limitations and responsibilities in creating a safe event for our community," Holly said.  The first and second market were held in May and June with around 15 local stallholders. The first market saw almost 250 visitors stopping by! The new market is being held at 16 Station Street, Seaford on the third Saturday of each month from 9am to 1pm. The next market is on 21 July. 

Attention Startups! 

Aspiring startup founders can take their startup ideas to the next level with seven new pre-accelerator programs set to be rolled out in Victoria thanks to LaunchVic. The programs’ focus areas include high-growth industries (AI, MedTech), underrepresented groups (First Nations founders, regional Victorians), and social impact (Circular Economy, DisabilityTech).
The programs will run across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat, and provide aspiring entrepreneurs with networks, support and mentorship to test out their startup ideas and find potential customers. 

Business Grants help
video available soon. 

Keen to apply for a Frankston City  Business Grant but need some help? 
We will be holding two information sessions to help you navigate, step-by-step through the SmartyGrants application portal and to help you better understand the eligibility criteria.
Information session times: 
Online: 31 July, 2024
In-Person: 8 August, 2024. 
An instructional video will also be available on our website soon. You can also email us at business@frankston.vic.gov.au if you have any questions while applying. Stage 1 applications are open 8am, 2 September and close 5pm, 13 September, 2024. Council recommends you read the guidelines and start sourcing your quotes as soon as possible to have ready when the application period is open.

New Business Mentor Panel coming soon! 

Frankston City Council is currently interviewing panel members and is set to announce the 2024/25 Business Mentor Program panel very soon.
Offering a plethora of skills and experience in a range of industries, the panel will be made up of multiple members who are keen to give back to the business community and help your business grow and thrive right here in Frankston City. Thanks to all who applied to be part of the
program. If you have a business in Frankston City, you can access this wealth of knowledge and expertise for free as part of the program
to help your business grow. Frankston City businesses can access two free one-hour sessions with one of our mentors. Sessions can be in-person, on the phone or online. Contact us now to access this fantastic FREE program. 

Important changes alert! 

*National Minimum Wage Increase: Risen by 3.75% to $24.10 per hour.
*Superannuation Guarantee Rate Increase: Risen From 11% to 11.5%. 
*Business Name and Company Registration Fees: Fees will increase in line with CPI adjustments.
*Engineered Stone Ban
*Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy: New policy requirements will impact businesses supplying goods/services to the government. 
*Casual Employment Changes: Significant changes, including a new definition and conversion pathway from 26 August 2024.
*Independent Contractor Protections: Enhanced protections and definitions for independent contractors will be implemented from 26 August 2024.
*Right to Disconnect: Starting 26 August 2024 (non-small businesses) and 26 August 2025 (small businesses), eligible employees gain the right to refuse after-hours contact.
*Commercial and Industrial Property tax: From 1 July, if you buy  a commercial or industrial property, you will need to pay stamp duty one final time. After that, stamp duty will not apply on subsequent sales if the property continues to be used for commercial or industrial purposes.

FBC Networking Event 

We attended the Frankston Business Collective (FBC) Business Networking Night on 26 June at Grace Professional Services in Langwarrin. At the event we heard from one of FBC's newest strategic partners, Sandi Grace, CEO of Grace Professional Services, who despite encountering various hurdles, propelled her company's growth through perseverance and innovative strategies. We also heard from Jan Davis from MiLife Victoria who are helping to create career pathways for young people with disability.
What's up next for FBC events? 
*July 24th Networking Evening at Frankston Arts Centre.
*Aug 7th Education Session: Camera Confidence Tips for Growing Your Online Audience with Therese O'Neill.

Transcend Services Business Community

Are you looking at ways to get connected with your business community and others in your region? Join the Transcend Services Business Community, an online platform filled with opportunities to chat and connect with other business owners, attend events and training, access business resources and get involved with news and discussions happening in the business realm. You can also ask questions, advertise your own events and share your own business knowledge with other members. All you need to do is sign up, create your own profile. Created by Transcend Services - local experts supporting businesses in the South East to build a sustainable profitable business. 

FMP Jobs Expo reminder

A reminder that the Frankston Mornington Peninsula Local Learning Network (FMPLLEN) is hosting the FMP Industry and Jobs Expo on 20 August at Mornington Racecourse. The jobs expo is open to jobseekers and is the ideal event to link local people to local jobs in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region.  Attendees will have the chance to engage directly with industry professionals and employers, eliminating the impersonal nature of online recruitment. This event provides a valuable platform for employers to interact with potential candidates, cultivate skills and forge meaningful connections within our community. Want to get involved? Reach out to FMPLLEN today. 

In other news; 

Rolling Mugshot: Pouring happiness and serving smiles is the motto behind the newest food truck addition to Frankston City. Thanks to Council opening up new public open spaces for commercial activations, the community can enjoy even more food truck options! Located in Seaford at Riviera Car Park, 30 Nepean Hwy, Rolling Mugshot offer coffees, smoothies and snacks. 
Spicy Web: Last week Spicy Web, Frankston, celebrated 15 years! The award-winning digital agency specializing in web design and development, celebrated Good Work for Good People. Recognising their many industry achievements including being recognised on a global stage with a recent shortlisting in the Global Search Awards 2024, join us in congratulating Spicy Web!

Could you be a Councillor?

Do you want to have a role in shaping
the future of Frankston City? Are you
passionate about making a positive
contribution to your community?
Then you might consider standing for Council at the October elections. The Municipal Association of Victoria is holding in-person and online candidate information sessions at key locations, providing prospective candidates with all you need to know on the election process, candidate requirements, the roles and responsibilities of Councillors and what to expect once elected.
These sessions, run by the MAV in partnership with Victorian Councils, can be attended either in-person or online.
Nominations to stand for election will open on Monday 9 September and close Tuesday 17 September.
The next council election will be held on October 26.

Business Concierge news

Our Business Concierge is a free service to help guide you as you start or grow your business. We know that navigating through Council can be difficult and businesses may need one or more permits to start operating.  The Business Concierge can help with; *providing information to help open or expand your business 
*understanding which permits you will need 
*completing and submitting these applications 
*connecting you to a business mentor
*offering advice on other aspects of running your business.  
This quarter we have seen a large spike in requests from 70 to 100 which indicates business in Frankston City is strong. We have also seen an increase in health and wellbeing business requests and people exploring businesses relating to animals such as dog grooming and doggy day care. 
Open or expand your business the right way, contact our Business Concierge first. 

Big Branding's new space 

Congratulations to Big Branding Wholesale Workwear and Uniform (and of course Logo the Legend Kelpie) who have expanded to a new and bigger space at 1/10 Klauer Street, Seaford. "We are excited to be on of the first businesses in this new development," said owner Josh Tulloch. "Adjacent to the large industrial development currently under way on Frankston/Dandenong road, we can see this area is set for rapid growth as an entire industrial estate starts coming online over the next few years." He said Big Branding supplies to many local businesses in the Frankston area and have enjoyed witnessing many of them flourish and grow over the years too.
"The initiatives Frankston Council have implemented over recent years are focused on supporting, rewarding, and encouraging small and medium enterprises in the city." Well done!