Bass Coast businesses get $135,000 shopfront boost

Published:: Friday 20 January 2023
Categories:: Business, Community

Bass Coast Shire Council is pleased to contribute $63,000 worth of shopfront upgrades to 34 local businesses across the shire, to revamp our town centres by improving their appearance, attracting customers and increasing economic growth.

The Shopfront Improvement Rebate program grants up to $2,000 to Bass Coast businesses to enable vital maintenance and modernisation, including new external signage, painting, minor repairs and lighting upgrades. The program was established to assist businesses in renewing their physical locations by renovating the aesthetics of individual shops, to stimulate economic growth and enhance the attractiveness of our local commercial districts.

For the 2022 Shopfront Improvement Rebate round two program, Council received 55 high-quality applications from a wide range of businesses and services, located in eleven towns across the Shire. From these, 34 successful applicants will be allocated up to $2,000 from the rebate program. Council is funding $63,000 of a total of $135,000 worth of upgrades, with participant businesses providing the remaining $72,000. These businesses add to round one’s program from 2021/2022, which led to 34 completed projects

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan, said the program will assist businesses and service providers in Bass Coast to brush up the appearance of their shopfronts and building facades – which benefits visitors and residents.

Cr. Whelan said that vibrant and attractive streets, shops and public spaces play an important role in creating prosperous town centres: “We want to do everything we can to bring people back to our towns: this makeover of our high streets is one important way Council can encourage their return. We rely so heavily on the visitor economy in Bass Coast, so it will be great to see these projects come to life, then witness the difference made to these businesses.”