Council grants will help 14 local businesses thrive
Published on 04 September 2020
Council has contacted 14 local businesses to deliver the exciting news that they will receive a share of this year’s $180,000 pool of Invest Frankston Business Grants.
Grants ranging from $5000 to $20,000 were approved as part of the 2020-21 financial year’s extended business grants program.
Frankston City Mayor, Sandra Mayer, met and congratulated the successful recipients via Zoom on Wednesday (2 September).
“Sharing this great news is one of the best parts of my job, as I know the grants will boost local businesses and therefore our economy.
“This is a particularly challenging time for businesses and I would like to commend everyone who applied for taking the time to do so,” Cr Mayer said, adding that it was a pleasure to meet the successful recipients.
“I’d like to congratulate our successful recipients and thank them for the important contribution they make to our City.
“Their passion is inspiring and their innovations are ensuring our City continues to compete with business’ big names.”
Aquatic Technologies in Carrum Downs and Seaford businesses, That Spirited Lot Mushiki were each approved for $15,000 grants.
Terry Mealor from Aquatic Technologies, said he and his small team design and create innovative solutions to control algae and aquatic weeds in water bodies, at their headquarters in Carrum Downs.
Aquatic Technologies recently designed an aeration system to oxygenate water using on site solar power set up.
Mr Mealor said these systems have traditionally relied on connection to a 240 volt power supply which can be difficult and expensive to install and run on site.
“Solar is absolutely an ideal match, because heat lowers the oxygen level in water and solar works best on hot days.”
Mr Mealor added that prior to receiving this week’s great news that their grant application had been successful, he was considering holding off launching the product due to the economic climate brought about by COVID-19.
“This grant will hit us at a perfect time because it means that we can go ahead and deliver the product to market; we are absolutely buzzing!”
Likewise, Hayden and Amanda Thatcher, who own Mushiki, are planning to expand their business’ offering by purchasing new equipment.
The couple, who specialise in the manufacture of Japanese style gyoza dumplings, expanded their range to include vegetarian and pork buns this year and are hoping for similar success with new products, thanks to their grant.
“We applied for a grant last year. We were unsuccessful but we received some really great feedback which we incorporated into this year’s application. We are both so happy with the outcome,” Mr Thatcher said.
That Spirited Lot is a boutique distillery in Seaford, owned and operated by Sarah Barton, her sister Kate, Sarah’s husband JP Willigenburg and his brother, Chris.
They bring a range of experience from their professional backgrounds to the distillery, which opened in 2018 and specialises in gins, vodkas and mixers.
That Spirited Lot are also working on a whisky program and take care of the whole process in house, including hand peeling and juicing fruits and hand labelling bottles.
They have plans to expand further into the local market, nationally and eventually, internationally.
“We’re from the Mornington Peninsula and we love it here so we want to work with local businesses and hopefully help them out too,” Sarah said.
“We’re a family owned and operated business and lots of love goes into every bottle.”
Grant applications were considered by an independent assessment panel comprising of experts with backgrounds in accounting, marketing, innovation, strategy and proprietorship.
Since the program’s inception in 2012, as the Small Business Grants Program, more than 50 grants have been awarded which have contributed more than $200 million to the local economy.
Invest Frankston Business Grant recipients 2020-21
- Sunpower Renewables Pty Ltd - $20,000
- Olivers Hill Coffee Pty Ltd (trading as Little Ollys) - $16,000
- R&D Signage Solutions Pty Ltd - $15,000
- Jon Tiner Co. Pty Ltd (trading as That Spirited Lot) - $15,000
- Frankston Made Pty Ltd - $15,000
- 6Aquatic Technologies - $15,000
- Multipanel Pty Ltd - $15,000
- Den Da Dumplings Pty Ltd (trading as Mushiki Dumplings) - $15,000
- Madam Mekong - $12,000
- Health and Well-Being Education - $12,000
- Marinescapes International Pty Ltd - $10,000
- Teavision - $10,000
- Calm Accounts - $5,000
- Mint Garden Café - $5,000
For more information about the opportunities and supports available to Frankston City businesses, visit: investfrankston.com