Council to fund Chamber’s plan for local business support

Goondiwindi Regional Council has agreed to $30,000 funding for the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce to benefit the region, including numerous networking events and training opportunities for local businesses.

This year, Council invited the Chamber to present KPIs for the next 12 months as part of Council’s Community Grant funding. The Chamber presented a number of core KPI activities that will govern its operating direction over the coming year, including six strategic projects aimed at providing beneficial outcomes for the region’s business community.

Council accepted the proposed KPIs in its November Ordinary Meeting last Wednesday and will fund the Chamber $30,000 to deliver these outcomes.

The funded projects include five networking events throughout the year and three training opportunities for small businesses. For the first time, the Chamber will extend their annual business awards outside of Goondiwindi and across the entire region. The Chamber will also continue to maintain the Grow Gundy Gift Card program throughout the year, and deliver their Twilight on Marshall Street event in 2021.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the funded projects will offer plenty of opportunities in the year ahead for local businesses in the Goondiwindi region.

“This is the first year that Council and the Chamber have worked together collaboratively to establish targets that benefit the whole region, and Council fully supports the range of projects that the Chamber has outlined for the year ahead,” the Mayor said.

“We are confident that this will be of real benefit to local businesses - big and small - across the region,” he said. “Council’s role is to ensure the funding we supply provides tangible outcomes and benefits to our community, and this suite of projects will do just that.

“We value the contribution the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce makes to our business community.  The Chamber team is often behind the scenes supporting local businesses and helping to keep them informed and connected.  I encourage local businesses to consider joining the Chamber as the more members involved, the greater capacity they have to deliver the projects our business community are asking for.”

The Chamber is not associated with Council and operates autonomously on behalf of its members. The funding goes towards agreed KPIs comprising of six key projects, in addition to some fundamental functions that Council expects of the Chamber, such as keeping local businesses informed of relevant news and opportunities and representing businesses as part of disaster management.

President of the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce David Turner said the priority of the funded projects was to enable opportunities for regional business growth and development.

“We are very fortunate in the Goondiwindi region to have such an active and engaged local business community,” Mr Turner said. “The Chamber advocates on behalf of regional businesses, from promoting networking and socialising amongst members to improving members’ business skills through training and information sessions.

“To best achieve this, the Chamber will be holding a survey of our members next year to assess our performance and research how we can best provide value for the businesses we represent,” Mr Turner said. “The Chamber will contact its members once the survey opens, and I strongly encourage all current members to use this opportunity to let us know how we can best help our community.”