The Victorian government has announced a $6 million investment to revitalise multicultural business precincts across the state, with 37 council-led projects set to receive grants of up to $250,000 each.
Minister for Small Business and Employment Natalie Suleyman made the announcement on Saturday, saying the Multicultural Business Precinct Revitalisation Program would fund upgrades to shopfronts, public infrastructure and community spaces in multicultural business hubs statewide.
“From Broadmeadows to Geelong, St Albans to Robinvale, and Oakleigh to Footscray, our state’s multicultural business precincts are vibrant hubs of trade, activity, food and culture,” Suleyman said. “We are supporting our shopping strips to be vibrant and safe — our small and family businesses are the backbone of our communities.”
Among the projects funded, Hume City Council will upgrade shopping strips on Barry Road, Olsen Place and Mahoneys Road in Campbellfield and Broadmeadows, with the works aimed at boosting foot traffic and attracting new visitors to the area’s diverse communities.
In Geelong, the City of Greater Geelong will partner with the Geelong West Traders Association to develop a pocket park along Pakington Street, designed for multicultural gatherings, events and integrated art. The project is also intended to drive visitors to local businesses in the surrounding area.
Brimbank City Council, working with the St Albans Business Group Association, will install cultural lantern lighting along Victoria Square in the St Albans Town Centre to improve safety and celebrate the area’s multicultural identity.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt said the program would deliver lasting benefits for communities across the state. “This investment will not only brighten up shopfronts and public spaces but will also fuel local jobs and celebrate the incredible diversity that makes Victoria thrive,” she said.
The Member for Broadmeadows, Kathleen Matthew-Ward, welcomed funding for her electorate, saying the investment “celebrates the vibrant Turkish, Nepalese and many other multicultural communities of Broadmeadows and Campbellfield, while strengthening local business activity.”
Victoria is home to more than 735,000 small businesses, with around 56 per cent owned by people with at least one parent born overseas. The grants program requires councils and business groups to work together to deliver improvements and promote cultural diversity.
Further information about the Multicultural Business Precinct Revitalisation Program and its grant recipients is available at business.vic.gov.au.
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