Helping Ipswich Businesses Thrive
Small businesses serve as the backbone of the city’s economy, which is why council is committed to offering practical support that helps businesses at every stage of their journey. In July this year, council launched its Elevate Business program to bring together a range of initiatives designed to help local businesses start, grow, and thrive. The program supports a wide spectrum of operators, ranging from startups and new businesses to established operators, growth-ready enterprises, and business owners preparing for sale or transition.
Elevate Business features networking events, mentoring opportunities, workshops, and direct access to council’s economic development team so businesses can gain practical advice and useful insights tailored to their needs. A key part of the program is council’s New Business Breakfast, which brings together entrepreneurs and business operators from across the city to share experiences and build new connections. The most recent New Business Breakfast held last month drew more than 110 attendees, highlighting the inspiring knowledge sharing and entrepreneurial spirit within the community. Elevate Business is another example of council working alongside the local business community to help unlock the city’s full potential. For more information, visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/Business/Business-Support/Elevate-Business.
Partnership Renewed
Council has renewed its partnership with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce for the next two years. This partnership continues to be a practical and strategic way to support business capability, connection, and growth in one of the region’s fastest-developing economic centres. It builds on the pillars of prosperity and partnership in council’s Economic Development Strategy 2023–2027 to collaboratively drive economic success. Under this partnership, council will provide $26,000 per year to the chamber to help support its activities for 2026–2027 and 2027/2028.
Galvanised – A Festival of Heritage Returns This Month
Celebrating the city’s rich and fascinating history, Ipswich welcomes back its premier heritage festival, Galvanized. Running from 4 to 13 September this year, Galvanized celebrates everything that makes Ipswich unique, with more than 30 events showcasing the stories, places, and people that have shaped the community. The festival provides an opportunity to step back in time and explore local heritage, from iconic buildings and historic towns to First Nations culture and traditions stretching back thousands of years. It is a chance to connect with passionate historians, volunteers, performers, and storytellers who are helping preserve shared history for future generations.
One of the festival highlights is the return of the popular Great Places of Ipswich tour, offering rare access to some of the city’s most significant heritage sites, including the beautifully restored homes The Chestnuts and Rhossilli. Galvanized is one of council’s five signature festivals and plays an important part in encouraging residents to explore their city while drawing visitors to the region. For more about this year’s festival, visit Ipswichfestivals.com.au.
Excitement Builds for Gala Dinner
Anticipation is building for this year’s Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Marquee Business Awards Gala Dinner. The dinner has cemented itself as one of the region’s premier business events and serves as a wonderful celebration of the outstanding achievements within the business community. A strong and vibrant business community is essential to achieving the outcomes in the city’s Economic Development Strategy 2023–2027.
Events such as the Marquee Business Awards provide an important opportunity to recognize the individuals and organizations that continue to invest in the region to create employment opportunities and deliver products and services that make the community stronger. Congratulations go to all nominees and finalists for their hard work and commitment to excellence, with anticipation building as this year’s winners are revealed. For more information about council’s Economic Development Strategy, visit council’s website.