Wine and choppers score funds to expand

TWO local businesses will be better placed to target new customers after scoring funds from the State Government's New Market Expansion Program.
Uralla-based custom motorbike builders, Scotty's Choppers and the Armidale-based Southern New England Vignerons will receive support via this program.

Scotty's Choppers will use the assistance to develop a plan to market its motorbikes and accessories.

The business specialises in building custom motorcycles and accessories including handcrafted fully themed frame kits, front and rear fenders, fuel tanks, handmade LED taillights and make over kits for Harley Davidsons for customers around the world.

They also construct one-off hand built choppers and frame kits.

The company is a local success story having won second place in the 2005 Las Vegas Artistry in Iron Show and came seventh out of 166 in the 2005 World Championships of Custom Bike Building with its unique hand fabricated and carved metal motorbikes.

The funding will help the Southern New England Vignerons Association develop a new website to market its broad range of wine styles that are distinctive to the region.

The website will promote the New England region and its wineries, and will include links to individual wineries' websites, meaning customers can purchase wine online.

The Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay said the NSW Government support will make a significant difference to the businesses.

"The NSW Government also provided funding to the Southern New England Vignerons Association in 2005 to promote New England as a wine producing region and this latest support will help grow our market share," he said.