This edition includes the following articles:
1. Training Partnerships
2. What's happening in Bass Coast - Newhaven Visitor Information Centre update, Events and Broadband in Bass Coast.
3. Tips, ideas, information and assistance for small business
4 A local enterprise - Raneye Security.

Bass Coast Shire Council Community Profile includes results from the 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991 Censuses of Population and Housing.

Bass Coast Shire Council Community Profile is designed to inform community groups, investors, business, students and the general public. To achieve this, the Profile is formatted to present the data in simple, clear tables and charts with concise factual commentary.

This issue of Business in Bass Coast focusses on partnerships and networking and their value to your business.

To receive assistance and information please contact Margaret Murray or Roslyn Jenzen on 1300 226 278 or email your request to business@basscoast.vic.gov.au. Information available includes:
1. Researching your business
2. Setting up your business
3. Business plans
4. Business names
5. Advertising your business
6. Customer service advice.
This fact sheet details the permits required before starting your new business.
There is a flow chart available that will give you a simple outline of the process involved.

This directory is comprised of members of the Phillip Island Tourism and Business Partnership and the Bass Coast Business and Tourism Partnership.

If you are interested in having your business listed please send a request to business@basscoast.vic.gov.au and information will be sent to you regarding the partnerships.

All memberships are renewed annually.

Business Victoria is a comprehensive online resource designed to help you start, run and grow your business
Completing these step-by-step guides will give you personalised information on what you will have to do to start or expand your business. All guides provide you with a handy checklist to help you complete tasks.

Items in this newsletter include:
1. Business mentoring in Bass Coast
2. Filming in Bass Coast
3. Drought Relief
4. Planning your sales growth.
5. Do people look at your shop window?
6. Local business profile - Playscapes.

The economic profile of the Shire reveals a diverse industry base with significant involvement in agriculture, education and training, service industries, community and health services and vibrant retail and tourism sectors.

Bass Coast is conveniently located only 90 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD, Victoria and offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for your next conference. The beautiful, natural environment and the diverse range of activities, cafes and restaurants make Bass Coast one of Victoria's best conference locations.
Visitor Information staff, who have local knowledge of the venues and their facilities, are available to assist with the organisation of your conference. This fact sheet contains brief information on available venues.
Please call 1300 366 422 for assistance or use the on-line link provided.

The task of planning and co-ordinating a conference is a high profile but demanding role that can be rewarding at the completion of the event. This fact sheet offers a few useful tips to use that will make the task easier.

A Mentor is a trusted guide who advises and shares their experience with the aim of helping you develop a successful business. To survive and thrive in business, it makes good sense to gain all the support and knowledge available to give you a competitive edge.

Mentors at the Small Business Mentoring Service can help you by:
1. Listening: Your Mentor is skilled at looking at issues from a range of perspectives, providing practical insight and suggesting alternative view points.
2. Motivating: Mentors are able to cut through the day to day problems and help you look at the wider picture and work towards achieving set goals.
3. Planning: Mentors will work with you to look to the future and build a plan that sets out the steps to follow.

This fact sheet has a map of the commercially zoned land in Cowes.

This is a customer feedback form specifically designed to cater for cafes.

This detailed spreadsheet allows conference organisers to compare the facilities available in each of the listed venues.
Please call our Visitor Information staff if you would like more information or assistance with your conference arrangements.
On-line bookings can be made using the link provided.

This fact sheet has a map of the industrial zoned land in Cowes

Topics covered in this edition include:
1. National Vietnam Veterans Museum - a case study.
2. What's happening in Bass Coast - information on events, visitor services etc.
3. Business tips, ideas, information and assistance - the benefits of publishing a business newsletter.
4. Suceeding in local business - an interview with local business proprietors Alan Close and Deb Jordan.

All ABS statistics can be accessed and downloaded free of charge. The ABS website contains over 365,000 pages including all publications released since 1994. It is updated daily at 11:30am enabling you to access new product releases each day.
A new and exciting range of products including QuickStats, Census Tables and Community Profiles are now available. They can all be used to access data in a variety of formats to suit your needs. The data will be updated when the 2006 statistics are released.
This fact sheet outlines the products now available and provides links to the ABS website. You can also go directly to the ABS site by clicking on the web link.

This is a customer feedback form specifically designed to cater for restaurants.

This fact sheet lists several web site links that will provide a variety of current statistical information.

Are you considering using a Bass Coast venue or facility for your next conference? Are you looking for extra activities or challenges for your participants? This information sheet provides information on the attractions and activities available in Bass Coast.
Please call our Visitor Information staff if you would like more information or assistance with your conference arrangements.
Please call 1300 366 422 for assistance or use the on-line link provided

This fact sheet has a map of the commercially zoned land in Wonthaggi.

This fact sheet provides general information on residents within Bass Coast Shire.

This fact sheet has a map of the commercially zoned land in Wonthaggi North

Bass Coast Shire Community Cultural Centres cater for a variety of activities. Venues include:
1. Professional theatre.
2. Exhibition spaces.
3. Halls for large functions
4 Various sized meeting rooms.
Click on this fact sheet for more detailed information and how to book a listed venue.

This is a customer feedback form specifically designed to cater for take away venues.

This is a customer feedback form specifically designed to cater for hotel dining rooms.

This fact sheet provides information on participation rates, employment by industry and location.

This fact sheet has a map of the industrial zoned land in Wonthaggi

This fact sheet has a map of the commercially zoned land in Inverloch.

This fact sheet details government and non-government school enrolment, as well as the education characteristics, within our shire.

This fact sheet has a map of the industrial zoned land in Inverloch

This fact sheet has a map of the commercially zoned land in San Remo.

This fact sheet has a map of the commercially zoned land in Grantville

This fact sheet has a map of the industrial zoned land in Grantville

This fact sheet has a map of the mixed use zoned land in Rhyll

This fact sheet contains a list of business opportunities or ideas that have been suggested by community members. The suggestions are listed by locality and then by category.

Business Victoria is a comprehensive online resource designed to help you start, run and grow your business. This website has information on:
1. Starting a business
2. Buying, selling or closing a business
3. Managing and improving your business
4. Industrial relations
5. ebusiness and much more.

This fact sheet provides a brief description of the type of help available for those setting up a new business venture or those wanting to develop their existing business:
1. Business Victoria Step by Step Guides
2. Bass Coast Shire Council Economic Development Staff.
3. Business in Bass Coast Website.

When starting a business it is always a good idea to contact your local trader group. The members of these groups can provide valuable support and assistance as you start your new business - especially if your are new to the area.

Whether you are starting a business or growing one, there's a clever way to do it. At business.gov.au you'll find all the information and tools that you need to make business easier. It's your gateway to:
* public information on every registered Australian business
* permits, licences and forms you need to conduct transactions at all levels of government
* the latest information on superannuation and taxation issues
* grants, tenders and contracts information
* professional advice and support and a whole lot more.

The attached fact sheets provides information on business grant website locations and a brief description of the information available on the site.

A kit of information, including fact sheets and statistics, to assist you with your research into investing in Bass Coast is available.
A copy of this kit can be forwarded to you upon request. Please contact Roslyn Jenzen on 5671 2211 or 5951 3311 or email business@basscoast.vic.gov.au.

Attached is information on the planning permit activity in Bass Coast over the last 4 years.

This fact sheet has information collated by DSE in its Planning Permit Activity Report and details the main land use or development categories for applications.

This fact sheet contains information on the types, numbers and values of building work in Bass Coast between 1998 and May 2007.

Financial institutions available in Bass Coast Shire are listed on this fact sheet.

This fact sheet provides the details of accountants in our shire. Information is from the Yellow Pages on- line directory.

Information on solicitors' details are available on this fact sheet. Details are from the Yellow Pages on-line directory.

This fact sheet has 6 pages listing many web addresses that may be useful to your business growth and development. Sites listed include: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Tax Office, the Guide for Home Based Business, AusIndustry, ACCC and many more.