Business Talk April 2018

April 2018

Welcome to Business Talk

Welcome to the April edition of Business Talk. Business success is essential to the future of the City of Marion as a place to live, learn, work, invest and do business.

We hope you find this newsletter of interest and please feel free to forward this onto your networks or others that may be interested in what's happening in the City of Marion and the greater Southern Adelaide region.

Watch this space!

The City of Marion's Urban Activation Project, worth $250,000, received 11 expressions of interest in November 2017. Four projects have been selected to proceed to the next stage. Keep an eye out at:

City Activation: Did you know?

The City of Marion does not have a main street. We have over 40 local and neighbourhood shopping precincts plus a myriad of other industrial, commercial and retail spaces. We have noticed a number of vacancies in some of our centres and each month we will feature a new space available for lease. There are two shops available for lease at the Trott Park Shopping Centre on Heysen Drive. Contact Mastracorp for further leasing details.

Have an idea of what you would like to see in the space? Tell us!

Transforming Spaces - LQC Kit

The Project for Public Spaces has a wealth of information and ideas to transform spaces in a lighter, quicker and cheaper (LQC) way. There is growing evidence from around the world with proof that expensive and labour-intensive initiatives are not the only, or even the most effective, ways to bring energy and life into a public space - but it takes a community to help. We are pulling together a kit to embark on transforming some of our spaces. We are looking for donations to start our kit including:

Bistro chairs (x8) and table
Cubby house
Rolls of fake turf
Barbeque
Solar or 12V lighting
Planter boxes/verticle gardens
Plants for hedging and planter boxes
Old scaffolding
Plastic tape rolls

To arrange drop off of your donation, contact City of Marion.

Building Upgrade Finance program

South Australia's new Building Upgrade Finance (BUF) mechanism is designed to help unlock investment in building retrofits and realise the associated economic and environmental benefits.

Building Upgrade Finance is a mechanism which helps building owners to access loans to improve the energy, water and environmental efficiency of existing commercial and industrial buildings.

Following the successful implementation at the City of Adelaide and the City of Salisbury, the City of Marion is now offering this opportunity. For more information, contact the City of Marion.

Want more from your side hustle?

Join the Southern Adelaide Business Advisory Service (SABAS) for their first discovery session on Tuesday 1 May at the Cove Civic Centre. Learn how to get more from your business by completing a simple health check. What do you look for and what do you need to consider to start improving your business?

The Southern Adelaide Business Advisory Service (SABAS) is FREE and offers confidential one-on-one advisory sessions for those wishing to start a business or running an existing business in the Southern Adelaide region (also including City of Holdfast Bay, City of Mitcham and City of Onkaparinga).

To book your session, please contact Phil Ransome on:

T: 08 7228 6208 or

Email: [email protected]

Edwardstown Digital Story EOI

The City of Marion is seeking Expressions of Interest from artists to coordinate, curate and create a digital story/short film working with Edwardstown local sporting clubs and community members within City of Marion.

The Exhibition and Digital Story project, will include an exhibition to be held January - December 2019 and a digital story/short film of sporting clubs and community memorabilia and stories for visual exhibition and digital display for a new sports and community centre opening in early in 2019.

Have a talent for filmmaking? For more information contact our Public Art and Placemaking Officer, Joyce Louey. Expressions of Interest are due 5pm, Thursday 10 April 2018.

Forage on the Fleurieu - Book now!

Cure your curiosity about sustainable food, ethical urban farming and organic practices at Cove Civic Centre on Wednesday 18 April. Forage on the Fleurieu will bring together industry, producers and the public. Speakers from the urban farming, fishing and organic wine production industries will join local producers to share their knowledge and experience on the future of food and wine with guests.

Cheese platters & tea/coffee provided. BYO wine, beer & champagne. Bookings Essential!

Kick start your business with Business SA

Join one of Business SA's two entrepreneurial programs and develop the skills and confidence to start your own business.

The South Australian Young Entrepreneur Scheme (SAYES) is SA's longest running entrepreneur program. SAYES is designed to assist young South Australians aged 18-35, to turn their business concept into a reality and focus on creating a sustainable business model. This 12-month workshop and mentoring program covers business fundamentals including finance, marketing, legal, human resources and leadership.

The Encore Entrepreneur is a business planning workshop and mentoring program for South Australian aged 35+ looking to establish or grow their business. Industry Experts will teach you how to develop a comprehensive business plan and sustainable business model by attending monthly content specific workshops.

For more information on either program, contact Business SA's Anneliese Powell.

Energy saving for your business

Can't afford to upgrade your building to save on energy costs? Saving energy can cut business expenditure and provide opportunities for reinvestment or additional profit.

The Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme (REES) is an initiative that requires energy retailers with more than 5000 electricity or gas customers in SA to help households and businesses save on energy use and costs, and lower their greenhouse gas emissions. Businesses can benefit from energy saving activities, either for free or at a subsidised cost, by contacting third party contractors working with obliged energy retailers. A list of these contractors can be found on the Essential Services Commission of South Australia website .