Small Business Minister Jackie Jarvis highlights State Government support amid gloomy outlook for SW operators

Small Business Minister Jackie Jarvis has highlighted the State Government’s support for small businesses across the South West amid a gloomy outlook. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA’s Regional Pulse report last month showed the South West’s businesses recorded the strongest sense of pessimism about future financial conditions in all of regional WA, with 45 per cent expecting conditions to weaken. Rising operating costs (71 per cent) were the biggest perceived barrier to business growth over the next 12 months, followed by skilled labour availability (53 per cent) and weak demand (32 per cent). But Ms Jarvis said small businesses were an important part of regional communities with the State Government assisting through the Small Business Development Corporation. “We’ve relaunched and bolstered the SBDC Regional advisory service to ensure small business owners can continue to access free, trusted and local advice from experts in their region,” she said. “I encourage Bunbury businesses to connect with SBDC and learn about the support available to their business, and I encourage the community to support South West small businesses by shopping local.” Bunbury MLA Don Punch has thrown his support behind small businesses in the Bunbury CBD despite the many empty shopfronts. The city’s retail heart has struggled in recent years as the rise of online shopping, suburban shopping developments and the COVID-19 pandemic have taken their toll. The Bunbury Centrepoint shopping centre was originally set to be integrated with the Stirling Centre as part of a major redevelopment until 2021, but the latter was demolished and later replaced with a four-storey office complex due to what developers described as “changing market demand”. Mr Punch said as long as he had been in the city, there had been churn amongst the tenancies. “We see empty shops, then they are leased and new businesses open,” he said. “We are seeing a lot of new investment in the CBD with buildings being refurbished and repurposed, and this, together with shopping point of difference in the CBD, gives me confidence for the future. “I would like to give a shout out to all the businesses in the CBD that work really hard to make the area something special for our community.” Mr Punch will host a breakfast for small businesses at Cafe Bean on October 25 at 7.30am. To RSVP, call 9791 3636.