Welcome to the Hobsons Bay Business e-Works update and Ramadan Mubarak (happy Ramadan) to all of our businesses observing Ramadan!

Over the coming months, the Economic Development team will be working out of our Council+ sites across Hobsons Bay.  We welcome businesses to pop in for a chat, to ask questions, or provide feedback.

Stop in and say "hi" between 9am and 5pm at one of the following drop-in sessions: 

Altona North Library
Tuesday 11 April 2023 

Williamstown Library
Tuesday 9 May 2023 

Laverton Community Hub
Tuesday 13 June 2023 
Come together for our Business Networking series to promote your business and share ideas, while meeting business professionals from a range of different industries.  

Next event: 
Tuesday 4 April 2023 | 10am - 11am
Pinnacle Nutrition 
16 Borrack Square, Altona North (Entry at 14 Duke Street)  

To register and view future events visit the Hobsons Bay Business webpage.

Facilitated by local business GreenAnt Networks, this workshop introduces concepts and best practices which can minimise the risk to customer data and alleviate some anxiety businesses may be facing in relation to recent large data leaks. 


Thursday 27 April 2023 from 5.30pm to 7pm

Altona Civic Centre 
115 Civic Parade, Altona

To register and view future events visit Hobsons Bay Business.

Join the Economic Development team and other local businesses to co-work in the co-lab! 

Our newly refurbished co-lab can be accessed anytime Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm and we are encouraging a group co-working day on the third Thursday each month.  Space is available on a first come, first served basis.

Altona Civic Centre 
115 Civic Parade, Altona

Hobsons Bay City Council is updating its integrated social policy framework, A Fair Hobsons Bay for All 2019-23. The policy aims to achieve greater fairness and inclusion for everyone who lives, works, studies, visits and plays in Hobsons Bay. 

A Fair Hobsons Bay for All supports priority population groups who are more likely to experience disadvantage, including women and girls, children, LGBTIQA+ communities. 

Please visit the Participate Hobsons Bay website to complete a survey, register for a priority population focus group or learn more about the framework. 

After several months of research and feedback from the community, Council has drafted six projects to help make Seabrook and Altona Meadows better places to live and work.  

To find out more and provide feedback on the draft projects visit the Participate Hobsons Bay website by 15 April 2023. 
Workforce Australia - Self Employment Assistance program is designed to help current or aspiring small business owners to realise the dream of starting and running a business.  

Asuria provides you with business training, access to experienced business mentors who provide assistance, and advice for the first 12 months at no cost to you. 

For more information visit the Asuria website. 
Council is committed to supporting local businesses and sharing upcoming tender opportunities.

Current tenders include:
  • End of Trip Facility Landscaping and Irrigation Works 
  • Greenwich Reserve Cricket Net Upgrades
For more information on viewing and applying for tenders visit Hobsons Bay Business. 
There are a number of grants and programs currently available through Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC) including the following: 

Circular Economy Business Support Fund - Round 3 | Closes 12 April 2023
Supports individual organisations and Collaborative Partnerships with projects that improve the capability and capacity of Victorian industry to identify, implement, commercialise, and scale circular solutions.  Between $50,000 and $1,000,000 funding available per project.

Circular Economy Innovation Fund - Round 3 | Closes 12 April 2023
Supports projects that focus on the research and development of innovative market solutions that apply circular design.  Between $50,000 and $400,000 funding available per project.

For more information on grants and funding available visit the CEBIC website. 
Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program helps Australian businesses grow their exports in international markets. These grants encourage small to medium enterprises to market and promote their goods and services globally.

Applications close Friday 14 April 2023.  For more information visit austrade.gov.au

The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline is a free, confidential service offering small business owners and their employees one-on-one access to trained wellbeing coaches, financial counsellors and business advisors. Call the Partners in Wellbeing Helpline on 1300 375 330 for assistance between 9am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends. A live chat function is also available on the website. 

For a list of other resources available visit the Mental Health in Business webpage.