Website makes the local connection

A Geelong website has put projects totalling $20 million in motion since its launch, according to its creators.
James Baird, the founder of Localised, said the digital platform helped Geelong businesses take advantage of local supply chains and create jobs.
“Having improvement in local procurement and social procurement is a really important part of our story.”
Mr Baird said 500 users had registered with Localised since it went live in late 2016. The majority joined after the website’s official launch on 22 February.
“We’ve had a number of projects going to the platform off the back of the launch. We’re now looking at in excess of $20 million in projects across a range of different categories.”
Mr Baird urged other businesses seeking services to link with Localised, as it “creates networks” and “tackles entrenched disadvantage”.
The website forms a key part of Geelong Region Opportunities for Work (GROW) – the brainchild of regional municipality body G21.
The initiative seeks to target joblessness and improve social prosperity through local supply chains and procurement.
G21 chief executive Elaine Carbines urged businesses to seek solutions through Localised.
“This platform helps fill a critical gap in supply chain connections, targeting the billions of dollars in procurement lost to the region while striving for such important social outcomes,” she said.
Research commissioned by GROW has found that less than half of $17 billion of business procurement in the G21 region each year goes to local suppliers.
“We need to help continuing to nurture the region’s great capacity to provide wide-ranging solutions to local needs and realise GROW’s objectives in creating jobs and combating disadvantage,” Ms Carbines said.
Representatives of key supporters WorkSafe, Avalon Airport, Deakin University and Corio Waste Management have profiled their involvements with the program.