This morning, Ararat Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Jo Armstrong attended the opening of the new K-Hub in Ararat.
"The new K-Hub has been the focus of much excitement since the announcement of this new store last year," Cr Jo Armstrong said.
"K-Hub brings more opportunities for people to shop locally in Ararat, with their large product range giving consumers more choice, ensuring that they will buy and support local.
"Investment from a major national retailer chain such as Kmart demonstrates the strength of our local economy. It shows that businesses see Ararat as a regional centre for growth and are choosing to invest here with confidence.
"Ararat has a diverse mixed economy, which has proved to be extremely robust throughout the global pandemic. Our sustainability is supported by an unemployment rate of 4.19%, a booming property market and a higher retail occupancy rate than a year ago.
"The opening of a new K-Hub will only further strengthen this, providing new retail and employment opportunities for locals.
"It is great that the new K-Hub will retain and upskill staff from the old Target Country store, allowing locals to continue seeing the familiar faces they have before. We also look forward to welcoming some additional new faces.
"This investment is great for the morale of the people in Ararat Rural City. Often regional areas are overlooked by large retail investment in favour of metropolitan sites. However, the new Ararat K-Hub is a signal of a prosperous community, we are growing, and our town is open for business."
