Program helps South West businesses join the dots

An Australind business is one of many in the South West to have benefited from a pilot program trialled in the region this year.

The Joined the Dots program was trialled in the South West as a partnership between the South West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

The project allowed MJ Goods owners Julie and Matt Marchese to branch into baking and cleaning supplies, with renovations carried out to create displays for new product lines.

“We were so busy in our day-to-day lives that we just made decisions and hadn’t done any formal business plans,” Mrs Marchese said.

“The program allowed us to look at our business foundations which has flowed on to planning.

“It also brought to our attention that we had room to expand into two other product ranges that are complementary for our existing customers.”

South West Development Commission director of regional development Corina Docking said there were close to 90 applications for the program.

“I was the local content adviser at SWDC and one of the things we never really did was profile our region,” Ms Docking said.

“So I put together the Join the Dots program which looks at how we can increase our competency and capability in the region.

“The program helps us assist businesses through local content, trade and investment platforms as part of our efforts to support local jobs.”