$150,000 boost for Support Local campaign
Published on 09 May 2022
Cessnock City Council is pleased to announce it was successful in obtaining a $150,000 grant under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program to strengthen its Support Local campaign in the 2022/23 financial year.
Support Local started in May 2020 and was an initiative of Advance Greater Cessnock, the business brand of Cessnock City Council. The campaign harnessed the power of social media to promote local businesses and was designed to raise awareness within the community about the importance of shopping local.
This welcome funding boost will take the campaign to a new level with the introduction of the Product Champion Program. As part of the program, Council will work closely with local business chambers to identify and mentor new and innovative start-ups to help them reach their full potential.
Council also plans to showcase areas of growth, within the Greater Cessnock area, to investors in key industries as a push to attract new businesses to our region.
Cessnock City Council Mayor Jay Suvaal said this program would allow Council to actively engage with local businesses and assist them with promotion, future development, skills and training.
“The stronger our businesses are, the more prosperous our entire region will be, which will lead to more employment opportunities for our people,” Cr Suvaal said.
“By focussing on investment attraction we can bring new entrepreneurs to our area, which will help to strengthen the local economy.”
The campaign will also encourage local businesses to connect with Advance Greater Cessnock through its dedicated business portal at www.advancecessnock.com.au and via the @advancecessnock Facebook page. It is via these platforms that business owners will have access to business support, local campaigns, grant opportunities and workshops.
The 2022/23 Support Local campaign will kick off in July and is made possible thanks to funding under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.
Photo left to right: Cessnock City Council Mayor Jay Suvaal, Business Advisor at Hunter Region Business Hub Troy White, President Cessnock Business Chamber Clint Ekert, and Cessnock City Council’s Economic Development and Tourism Manager Tony Chadwick