Shop-front grants

Ararat Rural City Council has allocated more than $55,000 to 20 businesses in the municipality to help improve their facades.

Due to the success of the program, chief executive Tim Harrison said the council was now offering extra grants under the same funding round.

“The council was happy to see how many businesses were keen to improve their shop fronts by applying for the grants,” he said.

“We still have some funding available in this first round of the grant scheme and would welcome any other businesses – especially those in our rural areas – to apply.”

Dr Harrison said the grants awarded to the 20 businesses ranged from $300 to $5000 and were for works including sign updates, painting, cleaning and the removal of old hoardings.

“It will be exciting to watch the transformation in these facades as the works progress,” he said.

The program awards grants on a dollar-for-dollar basis with the aim to help business operators refresh and update their shop fronts and improve the overall look of a town’s shopping precinct.

Dr Harrison said any business with a street frontage in a commercial area of a town within Ararat Rural City was eligible for the grants, which would provide up to $5000 on a $1:1 basis.

Successful businesses were: ACE Radio; Boyd’s Body Works; Grano and Mccarthy; Jerram’s Auto Pro; Ararat Laundry – Pinnacle; Dollar Curtains and Blinds; Elders; Grampians Insurance Brokers; Harris Automotive; Hotondo Homes; J. and M. Hughan Nursery; Mountainside Wines; ONE Office National; Pinnacle – main office; Something Beautiful; Tasty Bird; Three Blooms; Toyz on Barkly; Treasure Hunter’s Hall; and Two Tags.

Applications close Wednesday next week with full details available at council’s website www.ararat.vic.gov.au/figs.