LOED staff helping businesses

Council’s Economic Development Strategies Report

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This month the Economic Development and Strategy Branch (ED&S) at Logan City Council tabled the annual Economic Development Strategies Report, to inform Council of the implementation of strategies and action plans for the 2021/22 financial year.

ED&S Branch, through the implementation of the new Economic Development Strategy 2022-2027, enables, facilitates, and promotes economic development to deliver thriving businesses and valued employment opportunities that strengthen our communities.

This is achieved with a focus on close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders across 5 strategic areas – Business and Employment Support, Investment Attraction, Emerging Industries, Youth Pathways and Place Development.

Key highlights include:

  • A month-long program for Small Business Month saw 18 events delivered in Logan during May 2022, including the How to Start a Home-based Business workshops, partnering with our Libraries team for events and the Multicultural Small Business Expo hosted by DESBT.
  • Continued successful allocation of the Investment Attraction Incentive Fund which attracted/retained 7 businesses, 403 new and retained jobs and $24 million in capital expenditure.
  • Australian Unity proceeded to Development Assessment of a proposed multi-faceted healthcare precinct with development plans including a new private hospital, medical centre, medical office space, aged care facility, and health education service.
  • In response to the severe weather event in February 2022, the Logan Office of Economic Development (LOED) led several initiatives in conjunction with the Local Recovery Economic Sub Group, including the launch and delivery of the Small Business Recovery and Reinvigoration Fund.
  • Launched the Mayor’s Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce.
  • Progressed various reports and internal workshops towards identifying new sporting facility opportunities and a roadmap that assists in capitalising on Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
  • Launched a new destination brand ‘Explore Logan’ and associated marketing campaign, including the development of 6 hero videos. Gained 2000 new followers across digital channels.
  • Delivered major improvements to the LoganJobs.com.au platform, providing users with more flexibility and access to significant job support information.

A more detailed overview of key activities in the strategic areas is detailed below.

LOED staff at Flowerhub

Business support

Through Logan Office of Economic Development, Council provides business support services to help business start, grow, employ and thrive. The annual report highlighted key activities for 2021/22:

  • 157 of Logan’s major businesses were directly engaged and supported.
  • 12 events were coordinated or directly supported for delivery to the small business community, including the Multicultural Business Engagement Forum.
  • 8 workshops on How to Start a Home-based Business were delivered at various Logan community centres, empowering 51 individuals, with 13 Logan start-ups.
  • A further 71 events were sponsored or actively promoted to further enhance the growth of Logan businesses, including collaboration with The Yunus Centre at Griffith University.
  • 3 Joint Chamber of Commerce breakfasts were delivered by guest speakers Shane Webcke, Karen Jacobsen and Michael Kasprowicz, sharing a common theme of business resilience.
  • 61 one-on-one business advisory sessions were provided to small business owners.
  • 20 local businesses were assisted with export opportunities into existing or new global markets. This was done through one-on-one business meetings, introductions to potential buyers and networking events held by Local, State, Federal and Chamber Events in Logan and Brisbane.
  • Queensland Small Business Month was celebrated with LOED hosting 11 events and supported an additional 7 events.
  • Council joined the Small Business Friendly program (September 2021), led by Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC), Maree Adshead. The QSBC enhances the operating environment of small businesses through collaborative advocacy, fast and fair assistance.

Students at local business with Mayor Power and LOED staff

Mayor’s Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce (The Taskforce)

The Taskforce focuses on delivering practical solutions in the fields of employment, job placement, youth unemployment, workforce skills, career pathways, training and further education. Since launching in November 2021, it has:

  • Developed a Local Jobs Action Plan and undertaken an unemployment analysis.
  • Delivered major improvements to the LoganJobs.com.au platform.
  • Untaken 140 employment related businesses engagements.
  • Placed 121 jobseekers in employment.
  • Created 7 skills shortage programs with business and network providers.

LOED staff at B&C Plastics

Investment attraction & emerging industries

  • A total of 16 projects were attracted and facilitated to the city. This included a diverse range of businesses, ranging from health and medical, shopping centre developments, transport and logistics and manufacturing.
  • A combined value of $70.95 million of capital expenditure was invested in the city from these projects, which created 231 new and retained 624 jobs.
  • Successful allocation of the Investment Attraction Incentive Fund attracted/retained 9 businesses, 1,071 new and 1,424 retained jobs and $462.10 million in capital expenditure.
  • 59 engagements were made with key state and federal government stakeholders to raise the profile of the City of Logan in identified target markets, promote investment opportunities and gather current information related to target markets.
  • 85 engagements were undertaken with industry networks, intermediaries and contacts that can assist in the process of facilitating trade related opportunities.
  • Australian Unity proceeded to Development Assessment of a proposed multi-faceted healthcare precinct with development plans including a new private hospital, medical centre, medical office space, aged care facility, and health education service.
  • Progressed various reports and internal workshops towards identifying new sporting facility opportunities and a roadmap that assists in capitalising on Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games opportunities.
  • Supported various Logan Plan 2025 studies including the Logan Tourism Opportunities Report and Economic Review (Centres).
  • Ongoing investment-focused marketing campaigns and collateral were undertaken to position the City of Logan as an ideal investment location, with a focus on both greenfield and infill development.

Loganlea Road Healthy Street project

Place Development

The Place Making and Urban Design Program have delivered a range of projects and initiatives that support the objectives and action plans of the current Economic Development implementation plan, including:

  • Delivered a number of city centre implementation fund projects for key activity centres in Beenleigh, Meadowbrook and Logan Village and are progressing projects in Springwood,
    Jimboomba and Logan Central over the next 2 years.
  • The City Centre Implementation plans are being updated to identify priority projects completed as well as identifying short term projects to be prioritised over the next 5 years.
  • The first round of the Facade Improvement Program has been allocated to 15 applicants. The next round of funding will be launched by the end of the year, which will contribute towards
    rejuvenation of smaller centres.

Group of people having fun at Kingston Butter Factory

Destination Management Plan

The Destination Management Plan (DMP) 2018-22 has come to completion and a new DMP is being developed. There were 6 activation categories, with 31 actions established that set the groundwork to activate the City of Logan’s vision for its visitor economy. Of these actions, 4 game changing projects and 17 actions were prioritised by the external Tourism Advisory Group and Councillors. 16 of these actions were successfully delivered or progressed.

Being Council’s first DMP, significant investigations of new experience opportunities and industry development initiatives were completed including:

  • Launched Logan’s new destination brand “Explore Logan” with an experience framework, marketing campaigns and new image library.
  • Feasibility/concept and business case development for the catalyst projects: Riverine Discovery Centre, a White-Water Park, Destination Holiday Park and the Bethania to Logan Village Rail Trail.
  • Various studies and strategic analyses: short-term accommodation demand study, business case and investment attraction incentives, Food Tourism Development Plan, events economic analysis and review of tourism uses to inform the new planning scheme – Logan Plan 2025.
  • Delivered a range of business development workshops, including mentoring, packaging, and collaboration programs and facilitated industry networking nights.