Top prizes on offer in awards

Cash and-or lucrative advertising packages are up for grabs for the winners of major categories in East Grampians Business Awards later this year.

Business of the Year will win $2000 from Greater Ararat Business Network and a People’s Choice Award winner will pocket a $2000 multi-media advertising package courtesy of The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM.

Best New Business of the Year will walk away with a $2000 advertising package from Prime7.

Ararat Rural City Council is strongly supporting the awards, which are scheduled for November and open to Ararat district businesses.

Council chief executive Tim Harrison said sponsorship support for the awards reflected a confidence in the ability of the regional business sector to emerge from the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Award nominations have been coming in steadily, which also tells us that businesses are looking forward and beyond the obvious anxiety and hardship of the pandemic. It really shows that not only is confidence bubbling away in regional Victoria, but also Ararat district,” he said.

ACE Radio Wimmera manager Brendan O’loughlin said The Weekly Advertiser and 3WM and MIXX FM were pleased to continue strong support of the awards.

“But perhaps more so in the current environment, where businesses have had to quickly adapt and adopt a high level of resilience,” he said.

“From our perspective, we see providing this award as a consolidation of our faith in Ararat district businesses and the role they play in stimulating economic recovery and growth.

“Ararat businesses are a critical part of the bounce-back jig-saw in our region and we’re right behind them.”

Businesses can apply for the awards until October 1.

Business operators can download entry forms for various award categories on website Ararat.vic.gov.au/east-grampians-business-awards-2021, request an application form via email pcairns@ ararat.vic.gov.au or call 5355 0241.