How will the funding be spent?

The funding is a combination of buildings, capital equipment and employee training.
The expense for the buildings is lower than normal due to the partial use of new infrastructure and services associated with the proposed new wholesale nursery.
The capital equipment for the coffee shop consists primarily of shop fitting, and the food preparation storage and serving areas as well as seating and air-conditioning for patrons.
Training will ensure new correct skills in food preparation and service.

How will the project be delivered?

A formal business case, social impact statement, financial budgets for both the planned project and annual operating budgets as well as the project plan are already in place.
The project would be managed by Minda's project management team and many components of the current project plan for the wholesale nursery are already happening.
Addition of the Social Enterprise Nursery /Café will flow into that (expanded) project using preferred suppliers.
Commence June '17- Complete end November '17

How many people will directly benefit from this project?

Will save the jobs of 30+ people with a disability and 5 staff and create at least 6 jobs for people with a social disadvantage.

How will you measure the impact of this project?

A business plan has been prepared for this project and the KPIs include the following --
1---The retail nursery will initially add $50,000 PA sales, growing to $100,000.
2---The café will serve coffee and snacks to bushwalkers and local community and add a further $50,000 in sales PA once properly established, anticipated to be 12-18 months.
3---The jobs of 30+ people with a disability will be saved as the wholesale nursery will remain if this project proceeds and it will then be an integral part of the retail nursery and coffee shop.
4--Up to 6 new people with a social disadvantage will be employed and trained in retail and horticultural skills.
5--A community garden will also be established ( subject to funding from grants)and we expect at least 20 local residents to use that facility on an ongoing basis.
6- A local picnic area will also be established ( subject to funding from grants) and we expect that both local residents and others will use that facility regularly because of the nearby walking trails in particular. It is hard to quantify numbers but with a BBQ and picnic tables included it is expected at least 1000 residents per annum will use this facility.

How will the project fit this year's theme of ‘Connect, Grow, Build, Belong’?

The Social Enterprise will include a community garden, retail nursery and café open to the local residents. People with a disadvantage will work in the facility and also serve the customers, thereby allowing community involvement and connection.
The new nursery complex will grow 30% more ferns and the financial plans shows over 50% growth.
New wholesale nursery within the complex means over $1M is invested for job creation.
Employees with a disadvantage will live locally as part the community.