Even with its great climate, international status and annual growth rate, the Gold Coast City Council is aware that to attract new business, it must compete with every other region and Council in Australia.
As well as developing strategies to target industries identified for potential growth, the Economic Development Branch is providing resources and effort to help businesses already established to grow and become more sustainable.
Through its business support function, the Branch has identified industries well established in the area to determine if there are constraints impeding expansion. For example, the Gold Coast is Australia’s largest builder and exporter of leisure boats. It is important that this industry has every opportunity to grow and continue to gain export markets.
Council has also been supportive of the recent work of the Office of Labour Market Adjustment (OLMA) which is sponsoring a survey of small business and identifying reasons for failure. The anticipated outcomes from this survey should ensure that small business proprietors have access to advice they need such as business and market planning, and also that they be provided with opportunities for networking with others for mutual benefit.
Areas currently with expectation for growth include expansion of the film industry. The very successful establishment of Warner Bros Movie World has, and will continue to be a great catalyst for other multi media suppliers and film makers.
The establishment of clean and green high technology industries, further development of the City’s already strong education sector and a projected food manufacturing focus at the Yatala Enterprise Area near Beenleigh are all necessary ingredients of the Economic Development Branch’s strategy for increasing employment opportunities.
“A major role for us is to promote the region as a safe and secure place to do business,” said Jim Fountain, Coordinator, Economic Development Branch.
“This will also include promoting our quality of life, and that we are well on the way to becoming a World City of excellence.
