LOXTON has a new centre for business, after the Loxton Chamber of Commerce opened the town’s brand-new business hub in the old visitor information centre building last week.
The Loxton Business Hub, located on Bookpurnong Terrace, will provide businesses with a co-working space that the Chamber of Commerce hopes will be an “incubator to foster fresh connections” in the local business community.
The new facility includes four ‘hot desks’ with Wi-Fi and printing access, plus a boardroom with space for up to eight people and online conference facilities, with tax-deductible hire fees.
Loxton Chamber of Commerce business and events manager Sonya Altschwager said the hub would provide home-based business owners with an opportunity to get out of their houses and work in a professional environment.
“It’s about having a space where you can sit with like-minded people and network and share knowledge and inspire each other,” she said.
“It is a true co-working space – we don’t have lots of private offices.
“It’s also a great opportunity for businesses outside of Loxton to conduct business in Loxton.
“It’s a new concept for people who may be regionally-based, but for any reps or sales people who may be travelling through the region they are looking for this kind of space all the time, so it’s great to be able to offer this for the first time in the Riverland.”
The hub will also act as a permanent office for the Loxton Chamber of Commerce, the first in the chamber’s history.
“The Chamber of Commerce is its own guinea pig, as it is the first brick-and-mortar space for the chamber,” Ms Altschwager said.
“It’s certainly a new era for us, but we’ve had a lot of support from the council, which we appreciate, and we’ve had a lot of interest from our membership, so we are hoping to make it a successful project.”
Ms Altschwager said the new hub would be an “asset” for the community and provide new business opportunities for the region.
“By being here and knowing about what other people are doing that could create other opportunities for businesses to grow and find their own space,” she said.
“It creates another opportunity for regional work. If it brings someone new to town because we have this facility, that would be a fantastic outcome for Loxton.
“People don’t have to be located in the cities anymore, and more than ever it’s now a valued proposition to work from the regions.
“We’ve already had so much interest and I’ve shown a lot of people through who have identified as being potential users.”
For more information about the business hub, call 0427 064 825 or email admin@loxtonchamber.com.au.