BALLARAT has a new confectionary line.

Ollie's Lollies is a brand featuring everything from jelly babies, raspberry drops and snakes.

McCallum Industries is behind the venture and is hoping if the $20,000 pilot of the confectionary line is successful, Federal Government funding of $300,000 will be given to formally establish the business.

McCallum chief executive officer Shane Molloy said if successful, the new business would provide more employment to people in the community with a disability.

"We are very positive about it. It's great to see so many people here to show support and a lot of people are going to take the product during the pilot," he said.

"We'll have to provide a detailed report that will show the amount of money that its cost and whether its at least broken even so that when we do apply for capital funding the Federal Government do have a document to say

the project won't fall over."

Starting the pilot has involved a feasibility study to determine whether there was enough room in the Ballarat market for a new brand of lollies.

Employees working for Ollie's Lollies will be involved in labelling and eventually packing the products.

McCallum Industries already has about 100 people involved in the cutting, sorting and packaging of industrial rags at its Sturt St site.

The long-term plan is for Ollie's Lollies to eventually have its own factory at the same location.

Businesses interested in stocking Ollie's Lollies should contact Trevor Miller on 5337 6901.