Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced funding of $50,000 (out of a total project cost of $82,500) for Your Local Box by Eat Drink West under the Victorian Government’s Stronger Regional Communities Program.

The project is one of over 20 successful initiatives to be announced as part of this year’s program, designed to support community-led projects that make regional Victoria a better place to live, work and visit.

This important funding will fast track and scale the development of Your Local Box which will in turn connect regional producers to a new retail market through the creation and delivery of local produce boxes.

The project is commencing with a strong number of producers and Eat Drink West Directors Kate Davis and Tim Matthews look forward to that number expanding as more regional producers come on board. It is expected the content of the boxes will change and develop as a result of customer feedback and seasonality of produce and events and special occasions.

Mr. Matthews said “there’s a lot of excitement around full boxes of Western Victoria’s premium produce and locally made delights here in our region. Giving a local produce box as a gift to celebrate a special occasion such as Father’s Day or a big thank you present not only helps showcase the region, but also supports our producers at the farm-gate.”

Ms. Davis said “I hope that this project, with its ecommerce platform, will provide an additional avenue to market for these producers to help with their long-term sustainability and growth.”

She added that “it will create direct employment through the packing, delivery and administration of the produce boxes and will in the longer term, aim to support displaced workers.”

The current round of the Stronger Regional Communities Program provides grants up to $50,000 and was advertised at the beginning of the year through a competitive-based process to ensure the best projects received support.

The fund is part of the Victorian Government’s flagship Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, a key aspect of the Government’s record $2.6 billion Delivering for Regional and Rural Victoria Program unveiled in last year’s State Budget.

The investment is delivering quality education, health, transport and record jobs – which have never been more important than right now as Victorians navigate the consequences of coronavirus.

Information and guidelines for the Stronger Regional Communities Program are available at https://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/stronger-regional-communities- program.

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

Our community wants to shop local and support local and Eat Drink West are ideally placed to deliver this exciting project. I look forward to seeing more Ballarat producers get involved and work towards a sustainable economic recovery.

Quotes attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

“We have some amazing produce in our local area and delivering this directly to families is a big win for everyone, it’s good for our farmers and its good for us.”