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Local Buying Foundation - New South Wales
July to September | Quarterly eNews
Muswellbrook | Singleton | Upper Hunter
 
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eNews Overview - scroll down to find out more!
 
  • LBF Chairman's National Message
  • July - September in Review Video
  • Congratulations Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry on your successful funding application
  • Local Buying Foundation Advisory Committee Update
  • B.I.G. Futures Fund
  • Office 365 Training - Coming to You!
  • MCCI Inter Business Connect Forums
  • LBF Funding Round - Closing 30th of October
  • Singleton Connecting Business Communities
    A Message from Singleton Chamber
Local Buying Foundation National Update
 
Melissa Westcott (C-Res Director)
Chair of Local Buying Foundation QLD & NSW
Welcome to our latest edition of the Local Buying Foundation (LBF) eNews. In the last quarter (July to September), the LBF has seen the first of the B.I.G. Futures Fund projects begin to close out.  The Fund was able to provide funding to business, industry and economic groups to implement programs to provide prompt support to their members and local businesses during the initial impact of COVID-19.

We have focused our time on ensuring the Local Buying Foundation can support funding applicants where able. This includes adapting to ensure an easy process for projects needing to postpone or reschedule. This fund will remain open while there is still need for projects that relate directly to supporting businesses through COVID-19.

The continued success of theLocal Buying Program (LBP), has enabled the LBF to support 136 projects with a total value of $3,884,907 injected back into local business communities in Queensland (since 2012). 17 projects with a total value of $328,858 have been approved in local business communities in New South Wales (since 2017). Most recently, two projects with a total value of $10,500 have been approved to see the Foundation off to a great start in Western Australian business communities.

The Local Buying Foundation is in the process of reaching its goal of having an operating foundation in each state where the Local Buying Program operates. The successful launch of the WA Foundation which resulted in funding for the Port Hedland and Newman Business Awards is just the beginning.

Plans are in place for a 2020 launch of the Local Buying Foundation in South Australia. This means each state's Local Buying Program will also be contributing to a foundation to support building business communities in the local regions/shires.

Please reach out and contact us on 1800 536 663 or email info@localbuyingfoundation.com.au if you would like to discuss our projects or funding options available.

July - September in Review
This year continues to be an interesting one, with many of our approved sponsorships and events needing to be postponed until 2021. While we may not be able to meet in person, the Local Buying Foundation continues to support a wide range of projects and initiatives which assist businesses and business communities across New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Check out the latest video below:
Congratulations Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce!
Congratulations to the Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the successful application submitted to the Local Buying Foundation for the funding of a Business Services Manager for the next three years.

This position, filled by Wayne Toms, has already brought significant benefit to chamber members and businesses in the Muswellbrook Community and will continue to do so into the future. The Local Buying Foundation is excited to fund the Muswellbrook position along with a similar project with the Singleton Chamber. These funded positions provide support measures to the many volunteers that contribute to chamber operations and play integral role supporting many local businesses.
Advisory Committee Membership Update

The Local Buying Foundation is governed by representatives from across the Muswellbrook, Singleton and Upper Hunter local government shires to ensure that investments made by the Foundation have the greatest possible impact.

B.I.G. Futures Fund
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 to relevant Business, Economic and Industry groups to assist with the continued delivery of services to their membership/business base during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The B.I.G. Futures Fund remains open for applications that align with the focus category of Business and Industry Innovation to enable these target groups to provide response measures which support members quickly and easily.

Learn more by visiting our website or contacting our Project Officers on 1800 536 663.

Office 365 Training - Coming to YOU!
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Office 365 Workshops are coming to a community near you!

Learn how to work collaboratively and productively through the use of Office 365 programs including Teams, One Note, Outlook, Planner and more.

Places are limited, so click the image below to book and avoid missing out!
MCCI Inter Business Connect Forums
Inter-business connect forums are well underway with 16 businesses signed up to participate in ten forums being held through to December.

The participating businesses are separated into four groups of four and participate in facilitated sessions to discuss current business environment and address common challenges that businesses in Muswellbrook face.
These forums provide an opportunity for businesses to share expertise, knowledge and helpful services to work together to forge ahead. Information from these sessions is then collated and provided to businesses to have on record for future support and reference.

Want to know more? Email: info@muswellbrookchamber.com.au
 
“The forums have been a great opportunity to exchange ideas and lend support. I’ve made valuable connections with other local business owners which will continue well after the forums have concluded”.
Troy Martin - Supply Solutions

LBF Funding Round Open
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.   For more information, please read on, visit
our website or contact our Project Officers on 1800 536 663.
Singleton Connecting Business Communities
Message from Darlene Flockhart, Business Development & Administration Officer for Singleton Business Chamber

The Singleton Business Chamber has been busy focusing on our Spend in Singleton Program. The program has been running for around 11 months and has over 115 local businesses participating in the program.  Over 2500 cards have been loaded with over $70,000 being redeemed with local businesses.  Local Businesses affected by COVID-19 have also been able to apply for a $250.00 preloaded gift card as part of the Singleton Community Support Package in partnership with Singleton Council, this has been a great success with round 3 currently in progress.

We were so happy to be able to return to face to face events in July with the return of Singleton Women in Business (SWIB). Traditionally these are a smaller event so were able to be held in line with COVID-19 restrictions.  We have held a SWIB event each month since and they are proving very popular, our October event has been moved to a larger area to accommodate more attendees.

As we start to return to a new normal, we are also holding our second Business Breakfast of the year this month. The theme for the breakfast will be our annual Around Our LGA with Singleton Council’s General Manager Jason Linnane will be providing a long awaited update of all their happenings including the current projects and initiatives that he and his team are working on across the LGA. 

Unfortunately we had to make the difficult decision to postpone the Hunter Coal Festival this year but we are very excited that our Singleton Business Excellence Awards will go ahead on November 6th. Winners will be announced via a live Facebook Event.

The Business Development & Administration Officer role is proudly funded by the Local Buying Foundation and Singleton Business Chamber.

The Local Buying Foundation is a critical element of the Local Buying Program in NSW
delivered at BHP Mount Arthur Coal in partnership with C-Res.
 
 
 
Disclaimer Local Buying Foundation
The 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
Australia