Grants for networking

4 December 1999

Two Ballarat organisations will share in $531,000 under the Networking the Nation program, Ballarat MHR Michael Ronaldson has announced. The Chamber of Electronic Commerce - Western Victoria's MainStreet.au project and the Regional Connectivity project, both of which were incubated through the University of Ballarat will receive $274,000 and $257,000 respectively.

The projects, both of which aim to enhance telecommunications and Internet use in the region, share $3.5 million allocated throughout rural and regional Victoria. The Chamber of Electronic Commerce is a national first, based on the operations of the Chambers of Commerce.

Chamber project manager Ross Davey said MainStreet.au, which is the first major initiative of the Chamber was a regional internet presence which focused on economic growth through enhanced business success over the Internet. The Regional Connectivity project is a joint State, community and Commonwealth initiative being piloted in six community enterprise centres.

Project coordinator Peter Ziebell said the project aimed to provide growth in business skills, greater uptake of IT business, enhanced learning opportunities and interlinking of rural communities. The funds will provide desktop video conferencing equipment.