Growing Precincts Together
Local retail precincts are the heart of our communities. Through the Growing Precincts Together program, Brisbane City Council provides resources that retailers and key shopping precincts can use to help promote, support, refresh and activate their business and precinct.
In early 2025, Brisbane-based businesses within local retail precincts across the city have the opportunity to apply for various support programs to enhance their business’ quality, performance and distinctiveness.
Apply now for our business support programs
Objectives
Through the Growing Precincts Together Program, Council aims to support businesses within local retail precincts to:
- build precinct communities with more opportunities to connect and collaborate
- develop a common language about the precinct (what is on offer and the identity of the precinct)
- increase the number of local stakeholders (business, residents, community groups) involved in local business precinct growth activity
- increase the number of events, activities and promotions delivered within local business precincts
- encourage longer visitation, return visitation and new visitation.
Understand
Properly understanding a precinct’s unique offering and customers is a good place to start business growth plans. This important preparatory work can include:
- conducting a precinct health check (PDF - 388kb)
- developing a precinct business contact list to increase collaboration
- identifying business networks in the area
- surveying customers and businesses (download our template (PDF - 428kb))
- understanding your market through generating local resident and workforce profiles via Council’s Brisbane Community Profiles.
Engage
- Throughout the year, networking and information sessions across the city will help local businesses learn more about available support programs. Owners can also use these opportunities to share ideas with each other and learn how to use our Precinct Playbook to boost business.
Precinct playbook
Council’s Precinct Playbook provides a framework of achievable actions to promote, support, refresh and activate businesses. It provides practical information and advice for businesses, local groups, communities, landowners and other organisations on how to make their business and precinct more active, attractive and connected.
Legacy projects
Find out about our legacy Growing Precincts Together projects:
Following the completion of the Growing Precincts Together outcomes in a precinct, Council will continue to:
- provide opportunities for businesses to connect
- update business and vacancy information each year
- email updates to keep the precinct updated about Council opportunities for businesses
- encourage sponsorship applications for precinct promotion and activation.
Bespoke coaching opportunities
In early 2025, eligible Brisbane-based businesses within local retail precincts across the city have the opportunities to apply for support programs to enhance their business quality, performance and distinctiveness.
Applications are now open for:
Business coaching
Working on your business (not just in it) is important to achieving its potential and long-term survivability. Business coaches can help you move your business forward and provide the guidance, support and accountability you need to help you set and move through your business goals.
Business coaches can provide support to businesses at any stage of maturity.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for business coaching, a business must:
- be located in a retail precinct within the Brisbane local government area (LGA)*
- offer goods and/or services in a retail capacity to customers who are individuals of the general public
- have identified areas of their current operations for which they require assistance
- have the capacity to commit to the full program duration and dedicate the required time for all coaching sessions and agreed activities/tasks
- hold a current and active ABN/ACN
- preference will be given to independent businesses (rather than franchises).
* Retail precincts are typically in areas zoned for specific uses under Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan), the local planning scheme, including Principal, Major, District or Neighbourhood centre zones. City Plan online will be used to confirm business addresses and verify applicant eligibility.
Selection criteria
Eligible applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria.
- Impact – specific business challenges or opportunities identified in the application can be addressed through coaching.
- Capacity – the applicant has provided evidence of their ability to dedicate the necessary hours for participation in the business coaching program.
- Suitability – the applicant has provided a clear vision through a documented business plan or their understanding of customers and competitors.
Applications close 11.59pm, Friday 28 February 2025.
Business coaching (food business)
Building skills and resilience through one-on-one coaching can help food business owners address the specific challenges facing this industry and fortify their future.
Business coaching for food businesses is an adaptable program designed to suit the industry’s business diversity and varied operating hours.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for food business coaching, a business must:
- be located in a retail precinct within the Brisbane local government area (LGA)*
- be a food business involved in the sale or provision of dine-in or takeaway meals, such as a café or restaurant
- have identified areas of their current operations for which they require assistance
- have the capacity to commit to the full program duration and dedicate the required time for all coaching sessions and agreed activities/tasks
- hold a current and active ABN/ACN
- hold a current fixed premise food business licence from Brisbane City Council
- preference will be given to independent businesses (rather than franchises).
* Retail precincts are typically in areas zoned for specific uses under Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan), the local planning scheme, including Principal, Major, District or Neighbourhood centre zones. City Plan online will be used to confirm business addresses and verify applicant eligibility.
Selection criteria
Eligible applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria.
- Impact – specific business challenges or opportunities identified in the application can be addressed through coaching.
- Capacity – the applicant has provided evidence of their ability to dedicate the necessary hours for participation in the business coaching program.
- Suitability – the applicant has provided a clear vision through a documented business plan or their understanding of customers and competitors.
Applications close 11.59pm, Friday 28 February 2025.
Visual Merchandising program
Visual merchandising and store design are crucial to the success of retail businesses as it helps to attract passing customers, visually excites the space and can create a welcoming environment and unique shopping experience for all customers.
Council is offering retail businesses the opportunity to participate in a visual merchandising program with the aim to help retailers create and learn successful visual merchandising techniques, store layout for best sales and become a destination location for all their customers’ needs. The program will include a visual merchandising hands-on workshop and three personalised visual merchandising consultation sessions (online and in-store).
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for the Visual Merchandising program, a business must:
- be located in a retail precinct within the Brisbane local government area (LGA)*
- be able to dedicate approximately 10 hours of time for the program and agreed activities/tasks and commit to the program for its full duration
- be a retail business offering products for purchase to the general public (e.g. fashion, boutique, homewares etc.)
- hold a current and active ABN/ACN
- preference will be given to independent businesses (rather than franchises)
* Retail precincts are typically in areas zoned for specific uses under Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan), the local planning scheme, including Principal, Major, District or Neighbourhood centre zones. City Plan online will be used to confirm business addresses and verify applicant eligibility.
Selection criteria
Eligible applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria.
- Impact – priority will be given to businesses that are considered to have significant visual impact in the precinct.
- Capacity - has the business demonstrated their ability to commit the dedicated hours required to undertake the program?
- Suitability - has the business articulated what areas of visual merchandising they wish to focus on and how they may benefit from the program?
Applications close 11.59pm, Friday, 28 February 2025.
More information
For more information about the Growing Precincts Together project, email Council.