More Ballarat locals and visitors from across the state are set to enjoy all the city has to offer when White Night lights up Ballarat, thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government.

Visitors from near and far can now wet their whistles with whisky, gin and vodka at Ballarat’s biggest distillery Itinerant Spirits, thanks to support from the Allan Labor Government. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today represented Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos to tour the new state-of- the-art venue, which opened to the public last week.

A new whisky, gin and vodka distillery will open in Ballarat this year, creating construction jobs now and boosting the city’s hospitality offering well into the future. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Eureka Michaela Settle toured the fit-out underway at the Ballarat Goods Shed where the distillery ‘Itinerant Spirits’ will deliver a world class distillery and bar.

The Andrews Labor Government is looking at more ways to boost employment opportunities in the Central Highlands, bringing together businesses, employers and community leaders. A forum held in Ballarat today and hosted by Jobs Victoria examined ways the Labor Government, local businesses and communities can work together to identify opportunities and develop new approaches to address workforce challenges.

Early works are now underway to build an Intermodal Freight Hub at the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ). The works will see five serviced lots built at the site – in preparation for major construction to take place on the freight hub next year.

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Ballarat to position itself as a must-visit craft and small batch drink destination with a new hub for distilling and brewing. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today announced a $450,000 investment from the Labor Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund to create the new hub – which will be a tourism drawcard for the region while creating more jobs.

The Andrews Labor Government is boosting internet speeds for thousands of households and businesses with upgrades to fixed wireless networks underway.

The Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) is going from strength-to-strength with five new tenants bringing more than 150 new jobs to the precinct – cementing BWEZ as an engine room for growth in regional Victoria.

Support for licensed bars, cafes, hotels and clubs across regional Victoria will continue through September, and other businesses in regional areas will also be supported where ongoing restrictions severely affect operations. With the City of Ballarat entering a seven-day lockdown, all eligible businesses in that local government area will receive Business Costs Assistance Program and Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund payments for the last two weeks of September – along with more than 100,000 metropolitan businesses.

Students at Forest St Primary School in Wendouree are a step closer to getting the facilities they need for a great start in life, with an architect appointed to design the school’s exciting upgrade.

Women from a range of diverse multicultural backgrounds will be able to support their business aspirations at a new fit-for-purpose hub in Ballarat, backed by funding from the Victorian Government.

The Andrews Labor Government is supporting regional Victoria’s recovery from the COVID pandemic by investing in local jobs and stimulating the regional economy. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced $300,000 for a Resilience and Innovation Program for small businesses across Ballarat and the Grampians to be run by Commerce Ballarat.

The Andrews Labor Government is getting behind Victoria’s brewers, winemakers and distillers with a new program aimed at getting more locally produced drinks into bars and restaurants. Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas today announced $1.5 million of funding for the Drink Victorian..

Ballarat will be the home of a new state-of-the-art business centre, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund. Minister for Higher Education Gayle Tierney today visited the site of the new Federation University Business Centre of Excellence on Lydiard Street,..