Joan Studd from Best Community Development, Alisha Reid from Grampians Insurance, Anthony Hanna from Ararat Video and David Bowles from Jim's Bookkeeping are now among ARBA's 103 members.

At their monthly committee meeting on June 22, ARBA's acting secretary Phil Clark said the association is still looking for tourism and hospitality providers to become involved, hoping they will fill the committee's vacant spots.

Enhancing membership will be a vital role of ARBA's business development manager, a new position created to provide a high level of assistance to ARBA to ultimately ensure the association's long term viability.

Ararat Rural City Council, which works closely with ARBA, has jointly funded the position.

The successful candidate will work alongside Council's business development unit, and will have access to its resources.

ARBA is currently working with Council to plan a suitable site for public toilets in Ararat's main CBD, which Mr Clark described as a `high priority' for both bodies.

They hope that tourists stopping to use the facilities will take the chance to check out some of the local businesses.

Local businesses will be on show in October at the Grampians Pyrenees Business Association Awards to be held in Ararat.

ARBA's Faith Sparrow attended the launch of the awards, and at the meeting the committee agreed to provide sponsorship in the $500 supporter category.

In other general business, recent member David Bowles spoke about the Four C Coffee Club (Coffee, Cake, Customers, Charity), a networking initiative that brings local businesses together to discuss issues and determine which goods and services are not being sourced locally.

Any money raised by the club is to go to charity.

Mr Bowles proposed that the Four C Coffee Club come under the ARBA umbrella, and further discussion will take place next month.