Welcome to the Business in Cockburn eNewsletter. We will update you monthly on what is happening within the City of Cockburn and how it may impact on your business, and ensure that you stay up to date.
Cockburn business share in $85,000 worth of grants
Two fashion designers, a new florist, a cafe offering ready-made school lunches and a company that supplies the Canadian Department of National Defence with remote communications units are among 20 recipients of the City’s inaugural Local Economic Development Grants program. The small to medium businesses successfully applied for the City of Cockburn program, netting $85,000 between them for projects that will improve their operations and offerings, and benefit their customers. The City received an outstanding response to the call for applicants in February, when 60 applications valued at $270,000 were received over eight weeks. Another round of grants will be offered at the end of this year. City of Cockburn Business Engagement Officer Sarah Kahle said the grant program, designed to foster a healthy, sustainable small to medium business community, was enthusiastically received by local business operators. “We received so many commendable applications covering a huge variety of valuable and interesting requests, it made deciding who to leave out a very tough task,” Ms Kahle said. Grants of up to $5,000 were available to help fund activities, services and initiatives to support continued economic development in Cockburn. They complement supports put in place for the local business community by the City in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. The application categories were designed to enable businesses achieve technology, online and e-commerce activities, upgrade or improve shopfronts and business facades, promote innovation, growth or start-ups, and access help to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. “I encourage all local eligible businesses to apply in the second round later this year,” Ms Kahle said. The opening date for the new round of grants will be announced in the coming months.
The successful City of Cockburn Commercial Food Waste Trial has led to this service becoming a permanent option for local businesses. As of 1 July 2021, participating Cockburn food retailers, producers and restaurants will pay an annual charge of $260 per 240L commercial food waste bin service, $78 less than the City’s annual general waste service fee for businesses. How is this service better for the environment? Food waste that is sent to landfill decomposes to produce potent greenhouse gases. Instead, if recovered, this nutrient-rich resource can be used to produce valuable biogas, compost and fertiliser. Commercial food waste is taken to Richgro’s anaerobic digestion plant in Jandakot, to generate high-quality biofertiliser and electricity (via methane capture) to go back into the electricity grid. As part of the service, business participants are provided with training and enough food waste bins to service the needs of the business. The City's waste team monitor the food waste and any contamination, to ensure a clean product is delivered to Richgro.
City of Cockburn Council elections are on 16 October 2021. The electoral roll closes on 27 August 2021.
If you are a business owner or occupier of a commercial property, you may be eligible to be enrolled to vote in the local government elections on 16 October 2021. To be eligible to vote in the City of Cockburn elections, you need to be a resident recorded on the state electoral roll or owner/occupier roll.. Occupiers do not have continuous enrolment and should contact the City of Cockburn to confirm their enrolment status. To be eligible to enrol as an occupier, you will need to have a lease, or tenancy agreement for at least the next three months following the date of the application to enrol. To enrol you must fill in an Enrolment eligibility claim.
If you're out and about in Cockburn and see something that needs fixing, visit our website and let us know. Is there a leaky tap or damaged play equipment at your local park? Have you noticed a missing street sign or an uneven, dangerous footpath? Fill in our online form on the website, including a picture if you can and we will fix the problem as soon as possible.
Join Women in Business program facilitators Pink Owls and a panel of local businesswomen for a free event where you will hear about their business journey, and discuss “How do you measure success as a grassroots businesswoman?” You will also hear about a new government-funded program helping you grow your online skills and impact. To find out more register for one of the “Gather & Info” events:
Sundowner - Tuesday 24th August 5.30pm for a 6pm start Morning Tea – Wednesday 25th August, 10am for a 10.30am start
What's happening in my suburb? This financial year there will be a whole range of facilities, infrastructure and amenities such as playgrounds, BBQs, CCTV, tree planting and more coming to the suburbs. There is a new feature on the City of Cockburn website where you can see all the capital works projects that are taking place in 21/22. Find out what's happening
Have your say on verge collections in Cockburn The City of Cockburn is reviewing the way it does verge collections and wants your input. We have one pop-up chat session left on Wednesday 18 August, between 3-7pm at Stargate Shopping Centre Atwell (near IGA), Atwell. Or you can let us know your thoughts by completing our online survey by 19 August.
Attend the NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony
10-midday Monday, 23 August 2021 Join us for our annual Flag Raising Ceremony on the grassed area outside of Spearwood Library. Everyone is welcome to attend. NAIDOC Week took place on the 4 - 11 July and this year acknowledged the NAIDOC theme of 'Heal Country'. It called for all of us to unite and seek greater protection of our lands, waters, sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration and destruction. NAIDOC 2021 invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown this event was rescheduled to Monday 23 August.
Get the skills you need to build a successful business
Covering a range of key business topics, these practical workshops workshops run by the Small Business Development Corporation are packed full of information and useful tips. They are the perfect way to get your business skills up to speed. What can I learn? SBDC offer a range of workshops and recommend beginning with Starting a Business and progressing from there. Click the links below to find out more information, view dates and book. Understanding business financialsHow to write a business planStarting a businessDigital marketing essentialsMarketing your businessWebsite planning Most workshops are held online, or at SBDC's main office at 140 William Street in Perth. Find out more about the Small Business Development Corporation here.
If you have any queries or would like to get in touch with Sarah Kahle, Business Engagement Officer please email business@cockburn.wa.gov.au or call 08 9411 3444
Cockburn Nyungar moort Beeliar boodja-k kaadadjiny. Koora, yeyi, benang baalap nidja boodja-k kaaradjiny. Cockburn acknowledges the Nyungar people of Beeliar boodja. Long ago, now and in the future they care for country.
