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Local Buying Foundation - Queensland
January - March | Quarterly eNews
Central Highlands | Isaac | Mackay
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Welcome from our LBF Chair
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Melissa Westcott (C-Res Director)
Chair of Local Buying Foundation QLD & NSW
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Welcome to our latest edition of the Local Buying Foundation (LBF) eNews. The focus of the last quarter (Jan-Mar) has been on implementing changes to our Foundation’s governance through our LBF Charter. We welcomed new and returning LBF Advisory Committee members for both Qld and NSW Advisory Committees, launched our new funding rounds and have responded to the challenging environment many of our funded and supported organisations have faced through COVID-19 with the launch of the B.I.G. Futures Fund. More information on the B.I.G. Futures Fund is below in this newsletter.
The continued success of the Local Buying Program (LBP), has enabled the LBF to support 122 projects with a total value of $3,040,198 injected back into local business communities in Queensland (since 2012) and 15 projects with a total value of $138,859 injected into local business communities in New South Wales (since 2017).
We are here to support our business communities, whether it be through our LBF Funding Rounds, B.I.G. Futures Fund or assistance in directing businesses through to other funding sources, including BHP’s Vital Resources Fund.
Please do reach out and contact us on 1800 536 663 or info@localbuyingfoundation.com.au if you would like to discuss our projects or funding available.
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B.I.G. Futures Fund Approved Applicants
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The Local Buying Foundation aims to support Business, Economic and Industry Groups (B.I.G.) facing significant challenges from COVID-19 through the establishment of the B.I.G. Futures Fund.
The B.I.G Futures fund provides financial assistance
for business, economic development and industry groups to continue delivering services to their membership/business base during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Congratulations to the following organisations who have been approved for the following projects: - Resource Industry Network - Digital Engagement Project
- Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Ltd - Website Podcast Project
Learn more by visiting our website or contacting our Project Officers on 1800 536 663.
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| Meet our LBF Advisory Committee - QLD
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The Local Buying Foundation is governed by representatives from across the Central Highlands, Isaac and Mackay Local Government regions to ensure that investments made by the Foundation have the greatest possible impact.
The committee is made up of the Local Buying
Foundation Chairman, BHP Founding Member, Primary Members representing each of the three councils that the Local Buying Foundation operates across, three industry representatives and three business/economic representatives.
The LBF would like to express our appreciation for the outgoing committee members for their commitment, effort and expertise that they had provided to the Foundation during their time on the advisory committee:
- Cr Paul Bell, formerly of Central Highlands Regional Council
- Cr Ayril Paton, formerly Mackay Regional Council
- Erica Fredericksen, Moranbah Traders Association
- Glenn Byron, Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce
- Bronwyn Reid, Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women's Network
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The Local Buying Foundation supports funding applications from $1,500 sponsorships through to $500,000 projects, which meet the needs of building sustainable business communities for the future. The online funding application has been reworked for 2020 to include improved formatting, new
funding categories and streamlined processes for sponsorship requests.
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HIGHLIGHTS - January - March 2020
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The first quarter of the year has been a busy one for the Local Buying Foundation. Kicking off 2020, the Local Buying Foundation announced many changes, including a new national chairman, new Local Buying Foundation Advisory Committees and a roll out of our new funding categories. The success
of the Foundation is a direct result of strong use of the Local Buying Program across all BMA and BMC operations. Take a look below and see some of the highlights from this quarter.
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| We are now a bit over halfway through the LBF funded initiative, Bridging the Boundaries. Business Support & Facilitation Officer, Leann Preistley (GW3) and Business Facilitator, Mary Ryan (CHDC) have been busy in the Isaac and Central Highlands regions giving small businesses opportunities to increase their capabilities and capacity.
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The Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) launched its to measure expectations of regional business conditions and acquire a better understanding of local issues affecting business profitability and growth. This initiative
aligns with CHDC’s mission to drive growth, enable innovation, build capability and deliver economic outcomes in the Central Highlands. To date there has been a very successful responses rate and the findings will be made public on CHDC’s website, social media channels and eNews.
During this current time, with many businesses in the Central Highlands and beyond experiencing hardship, our current priority is to touch base
with as many businesses as possible and find out how they need support to get through this time. We are also continually updating our website with the latest support and training that is available for businesses with information on government funding, banking changes and Non Government Organisation support.
Visit the CHDC website, or contact Mary on 0447 985 241 or mryan@chdc.com.au if you would like to know more. The Business Facilitator role is proudly funded by the Local Buying Foundation.
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The year started off successfully with the Isaac Business Support Program, with many Business Group meetings, the MTA Mayors Breakfast in Moranbah and delivering Google My Business and Leadership and Development workshops within our region.
Covid-19 has thrown us a curveball but we have been working hard to continue our support to local businesses with the #wepledgelocal
campaign. The campaign has been showcasing businesses across the Whitsunday, Mackay and Isaac regions via social media and encouraging everyone to continue to shop local. There has been an overwhelming response with some great initiatives and resilience shown from our local businesses to continue trading by doing things a little differently.
We are working hard to make sure our workshops can now be delivered via Webinars. GW3 has partnered with the Australian Small Business Advisory Solutions, which delivered the first webinar, Mailchimp Marketing in late March. We are working on webinars for eCommerce, Xero and MYOB, with more planning in the works.
Contact Leann on 0438 731 633 or leann@gw3.com.au to find out more about the business support program in Isaac, which is proudly funded by the Local Buying Foundation.
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Startup MIW Activation and Support Program
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The Split Spaces Startup MIW Activation and Startup Support Program is a comprehensive education and support program designed to activate and nurture the startup ecosystem in the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday Regions. The Program is proudly funded through the Local Buying Foundation. This March, Split Spaces held their MackHack Mining and METS Hackathon. This event hosted a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to "learn skills to turn ideas into reality, prototypes into production and connect with like-minded people, industry experts and mentors"
(Split Spaces 2020). This first quarter also saw Split Spaces launch their Startup Onramp Preaccelerator Program, this is a targeted program for startups to help get their dream business off of the ground. With the current state of the environment, successful applicants for the Startup Onramp Preaccelerator Program can rest assured that Split Spaces are not letting this fall to the wayside, instead moving the program ONLINE! More Information https://www.splitspaces.com.au/ |
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RIN International Women's Day Business Lunch
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| The Foundation proudly sponsored high school students and not for profit groups to attend the RIN International Women’s Day Business Lunch in Mackay, 6 March 2020. Guest speakers included the Gold Coast Suns CEO, Mark Evans, sharing the message on the importance of women’s league sports on a professional level as well as inspirational speakers across the resources and industry sector with women in leadership.
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Students from local Mackay high schools attending the event
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CHDC Economic Futures Forum
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| Central Highlands Development Corporation delivered another successful Economic Futures Forum, this time as a Business Breakfast. Starting early, the event kicked off with CHDC General Manager, Sandra Hobbs as the Master of Ceremonies followed by a range of guest speakers including Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Hon Mark Furner, CHDC's Liz Alexander and Peter Dowling, Qld Treasury Corporation, Michael Anthonisz, Acumentis' Annette Smith and Westpac's Scott Perry. The forum finished with a Q&A Panel, including some of those mentioned above and
Clinton Adams and Bronwyn Reid.
The Economic Futures Forum is always a fantastic opportunity to see how the Central Highlands has been tracking economically and what trends have been developing. Key ideas discussed were the threat of Covid-19 on the current national economy, current housing trends in Central Highlands including residential and commercial sales, current industries showing growth strengths and what small businesses can do to gain support. The Foundation was proud to be the platinum sponsor of this event.
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| CHDC's Liz Alexander launching the Agribusiness Stocktake Snapshop, at the Economic Futures Forum in Emerald
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| LBF Community Partner of MRCOC
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Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce (MRCOC) has the support of the Local Buying Foundation to continue providing business development activities and signature events. Due to the current restrictions on events and social gatherings, the MRCOC is working hard to ensure its members have access to the support and information that is available for businesses.
The Local Buying Foundation is proud to be a Community Partner of the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce in 2020.
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An update on the METS Export Hub MIW
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MIW METS Export Hub Manager, Dean Kirkwood
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The MIW METS Export Hub has been working on two main projects. The first of these was the Expomin Project, which involved an Export Ready Course, the LATAM webinar series and a Trade Mission to Chile for Expomin (South America’s largest mining expo).
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 part two and three of this project have been postponed at
this stage until later in the year. We did complete the Export Ready Course which received great feedback. Thanks to Mackay Regional Council and TIQ for their support for this course. We are in the process of organising another course now. The course content for this will be delivered online.
If this course interests you please let me know via email (dean@resourceindustrynetwork.org.au) and I will keep you informed as we progress with arrangements.
Secondly,
we have started our project where we are mapping the capability of the region. Soon you may receive an online survey for you to complete. I ask that you take the time to complete this survey, as it is an important step towards creating a world-class METS region.
The MIW METS Export Hub project is co-funded by the Local Buying Foundation.
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| With restrictions in place for the prevention of COVID-19, the difficult decisions to postpone many events and workshops that the Local Buying Foundation has supported across the regions. The Local Buying Foundation will work closely with the applicants to ensure they have our support through this difficult and ever-changing times.
Some of the events have been postponed until 2021, with others already locked in for later in the year.
Rescheduled
21 August | RIN Safety Conference | Resource Industry Network
23 October | RIN Gala Awards | Resource Industry Network
Postponed
Rural Health Educators Weekend | Central Queensland Rural Health
Isaac Region Small Business Month | GW3
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The Local Buying Foundation is a critical element of the Local Buying Program
delivered across all BMA and BMC operations in partnership with C-Res.
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| Local Buying Foundation Social Media
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Disclaimer Local Buying FoundationThe information provided by LBF in this communication is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to provide accurate and correct information, we make no representations or
warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability or suitability of the information, contained in the communication. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Your privacy is important to us. Please see the Privacy Policy here.Our mailing address is:Local Buying Foundation PO Box 1721 Mackay QLD 4740
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