Local innovation rewarded in Coleraine and Warrnambool
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
The Victorian Government today announced $60,000 to support two new social enterprise initiatives in Coleraine and Warrnambool under the $3 million Social Enterprise Program.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development Damian Drum said the Kulcha Shift Community Café in Warrnambool and the Coleraine Enterprise were excellent examples of regional communities using innovative market-based strategies to address significant local challenges.
"Both enterprises aim to make a profit through the trade of goods and services but will choose to reinvest this profit into initiatives that support the community, an important driver in stimulating local economies and creating jobs and training opportunities," Mr Drum said.
"This gives social enterprises a degree of self-reliance and independence and encourages local entrepreneurship and innovation."
A $30,000 grant for Kulcha Shift Community Café had been awarded to Brophy Family and Youth Services to help create training and employment opportunities for local young people.
The establishment of the café has brought together a range of local partners including a partnership with South West TAFE, Community College Warrnambool, WESTVIC Group Training and the Warmambool Community Garden. Training and working at the cafe will prepare young people for the mainstream workforce, while the café itself becomes a viable business trading locally and also generating income from venue hire, for training and community events.
The Coleraine Enterprise was an initiative of the Coleraine and District Development Association and, in partnership with Southern Grampians Shire, Wannon Water and RMIT University, was awarded $30,000 to assist in enabling the Coleraine community to be responsible for 20 per cent of its own energy, water and food needs by 2020. A key feature will be the construction and monitoring of a trial 'constructed wetland' for water treatment and enable food production on the site.
Acting Premier Peter Ryan said government support for social enterprises like the Coleraine Enterprise and Kulcha Shift Café was delivering a new and innovative agenda for how communities across Victoria can take control of their futures using a business approach.
"Social enterprises are all about driving locally-based solutions to address local challenges such as long-term unemployment, youth disengagement, environmental issues and other gaps in the delivery of local services," Mr Ryan said.
