1. GET DOWN TO BUSINESS A program to stimulate economic activity in rural towns Phase 2 – Start – Presentation to brief council and colleagues YOUR COUNCIL LOGO GOES HERE

2. GD2B OVERVIEW GD2B GOALS  To increase the capacity of councils to foster economic activity and engagement in their towns  To strengthen relationships and partnerships between council and the local business community  To stimulate the local economy  To build economic development maturity within council, business and community GD2B OUTCOMES  A stronger and more vigorous local economy  A commitment to working in partnership  An increase in the town’s prosperity September 14 Get Down to Business – GD2B 2

3. GD2B PHASES Get Down to Business – GD2B 3

4. GD2B SUPPORT FROM COUNCIL  To make sure GD2B is a success we need to: Commit to work in collaboration with our businesses and broader community Dedicate an officer to lead and support the program Consider proposals for funding that will arise from the program Support community efforts to source additional funding Commit around $X for facilitator support of the program Show support by attending the township meetings September 14 Get Down to Business – GD2B 4

5. GD2B SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY  To make sure GD2B is a success our community members will need to: Attend the two community meetings and share their local knowledge Share their talents to stimulate economic activity Join a ‘working group’ to develop, drive and implement actions Show a willingness to strengthen working relationships between each other and council September 14 Get Down to Business – GD2B 5

6. REAL STORIES  There are lots of examples of where economic development programs and good planning reaps results: Raising revenue through the birth of a festival e.g. the Almond Festival in the town of Robinvale Interaction between council and business and development of a business association e.g. town of Dimboola Creation of business pride and economy through a creative ‘buy local’ campaign e.g. town of Benalla Others? September 14 Get Down to Business – GD2B 6

7. GD2B USER AGREEMENT  There are a couple of guidelines we need to agree to before we use the program which are:  To use the GD2B resource kit to support the process  To acknowledge Regional Development Victoria and the Small Towns Victoria Program in providing the funding to develop the GD2B resource kit  To share the program outcomes with the MAV to enable the information to be shared with other councils  To be willing to participate in program evaluation activities that may be conducted from time to time to refine GD2B or future economic development initiatives September 14 Get Down to Business – GD2B 7

8. LET’S GD2B THEN  First things first. We need to: 1. Appoint a council officer to lead the Get Down to Business program – they’ll need around one to two days per week for three to six months 2. Identify community members to join the GD2B Steering Committee – the committee will assist the officer in mobilising the town 3. Announce the program to the community – through a media release to the local paper and our own channels September 14 Get Down to Business – GD2B 8