Business and Trader Groups are leading community resilience and reconnection efforts with the support of the Yarra Ranges Council Business and Trader Group Led Recovery Grants.
There were eight successful recipients from the second round of grants including Kallista Traders Group, Warburton CEDA, Monbulk Traders Association, Yara Valley Business Network, Healesville Traders, Upwey Business Group, Lilydale Business and Trading Group, and Mooroolbark Traders and Community Group.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Jim Child said these grants help support business groups to lead local recovery efforts – both economic and social – and work towards revitalising our townships and embedding a sense of connection and resilience in their communities.
"Our local businesses are at the heart of our communities. They play a vital role in creating spaces for community to connect, and they have their finger on the pulse of what a community wants and needs.
"We're thrilled to see that different groups are spread across the region. Each of our townships are unique, and local voices help us support the best choices for individual townships."
"We're so proud that these grants helped facilitate the formation of two new business and trader groups in Upwey and Kallista," said Cr Child.
Jo Caterer, from retail store Clementine by Design and member of the newly formed Kallista Traders Group, said that the grant opportunity provided the impetus for the group to form officially.
"We want to lift the profile of Kallista and showcase what makes us different from the more visited Hills villages. We still get people stumbling in here, knowing nothing about us.
"Some of the grant will go towards flyers for B&B guests, and to signage – we're just down the road from popular tourist destinations like Alfred Nicholas gardens - but visitors don't know," said Jo.
Mirakye McCarty, from Epoche in Kallista emphasised that being a part of a business or trader group is a terrific opportunity to get involved, and really advocate for your community.
"I'm really big on community, it has always been important to me, and Kallista seems to attract business owners with similar values. It's really warm and friendly and community orientated.
"There was a lot of passion behind the grant application, because we're all very invested in our businesses, and we all do really care about each other, and are in to preserving the uniqueness of each other's business," said Mirakye.
Josephine Horn of Kallista General Store said that the grant would help reconnect the township.
"Kallista is a really special community. All the traders like and respect each other, and we have always been able come together, and work together to advocate for our hamlet.
"We have big plans – not just for this grant, but for what we want for Kallista's future," said Josephine.
