Frankston City Council has unveiled a sweeping new suite of measures to back local businesses and industries, delivering a $1.7 million Local Support Package as part of its $304.82 million 2025–26 “Stronger Together” Annual Budget.
With more than 14,000 businesses now calling Frankston home — including a record 639 new registrations in the past year alone — the city is rapidly carving out its place as a key hub for innovation, hospitality and entrepreneurship across the region.
The budget commits to a broad range of targeted initiatives, from uplifts in business grants and waived service charges to significant infrastructure upgrades and increased CBD parking.
Highlights include:
- Commercial rates capped at just 1.12%, well below the State’s 3% ceiling and the lowest rise in three years.
- $300,000 in business grants, including an extra $30,000 to drive small business employment.
- Waived service charges on public notification fees, minor event fees and kerbside trading.
- 70 new car parks at Frankston House, opening in October 2025.
- A dedicated project manager to help steer the $50 million Nepean Highway Boulevard redevelopment, aiming to breathe new life into the city’s key corridor.
- Three-year funding for the Frankston Business Collective and Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula, ensuring ongoing local advocacy and stronger business networks.
Frankston is also investing an additional $10,000 into its Social Enterprise and Innovation Hub, helping businesses adopt socially driven procurement practices.
Cr Nathan Butler said the strategy was already paying dividends.
“Since launching our economic development strategy and business grants program, we’ve helped attract major investments like General Public, Hotel Lona and Moon Dog Brewery,” he said.
“We’re building a business landscape that welcomes new ideas, supports local entrepreneurship and rewards social value.”
Frankston’s strong track record as a Small Business Friendly Council under the Victorian Small Business Commission is notable — having helped 98 innovative local business ideas become reality since 2012, injecting over $1.4 million directly into the local economy.
Cr Brad Hill JP said the Council was focused on both the immediate and the long-term.
“From waived fees to major infrastructure and new parking in the CBD, we’re determined to bring people and investment into Frankston, while supporting the businesses that already power our community,” he said.
“It’s a great example of Council and community working together to build a stronger, more vibrant local economy.”
The news has been warmly received by STPL News readers, many of whom have repeatedly highlighted the clear, proactive leadership shown by Frankston City Council. There’s a sense that local councillors are genuinely putting community needs first — a stark contrast to the frustrations being voiced by many residents and businesses about the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s leadership and recent contentious budget decisions and cuts.
Frankston City Council says it will share further details of its Local Support Package over the coming weeks.
To explore the full 2025–26 Budget, visit frankston.vic.gov.au.
