Cashing in at market

FURTHER funding has been provided to the Cranbourne Community Market initiative to provide local residents with a central hub for fresh produce, arts and crafts.
Last week, Cranbourne MP Jude Perera announced the Community Enterprise Grant of $26,239 towards the Cranbourne Community Market initiative, resulting in a total state government investment of $50,000.
The market will support and be supported by the Cranbourne Community Garden and delivered by the Turning Point Family Church. The first market is expected to take place in August 2009.
Mr Perera said the Community Enterprise Grants offer a genuine way to help new social enterprises get off the ground or provide a boost to help established enterprises grow.
“Projects such as the Cranbourne Community Market are a terrific way of giving people a chance to develop skills and confidence needed to enter the workforce while also offering services to local communities,” he said.
Project manager Kathey Blackmont said she hoped stallholders and volunteers would take advantage of the opportunity to showcase their work at the market.
“I see this market as an opportunity to better Cranbourne,” she said.
She said the market was part of the Cranbourne Community Plan and had support from the City of Casey.
Mr Perera said the Cranbourne Community Market was among 14 organisations across Victoria to share in more than $348,000 in Community Enterprise Grants to provide vulnerable Victorians a chance to participate in the workforce.