Destination NSW.
The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner is expanding its work focusing on place-based initiatives and precinct development, now with a focus on regional NSW through its Regional Night-Time Economy Program.
The pilot capacity-building and grant program will provide $2 million in grant funding to 10 business collectives across regional NSW, to support them to harness existing opportunities, events or tourist attractions in their area for increased vibrancy.
Each collective, comprised of 6 or more local businesses, will receive up to $200,000, as well as a tailored in-person bootcamp delivered locally and online workshops, with the aim of extending trading opportunities, increasing foot traffic and revenue potential for their local town centres.
As examples, funding may be used to coordinate late-night trading pilots across multiple venues, stage live music or cultural activations in public or underutilised spaces, or establish night-time activations linked to existing events or festivals.
“We know that locals in our regional hubs know their community needs best,” said Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham, on the launch of the Program.
This pilot program will empower business groups to enhance the offerings within their own community, whether that’s through events and activations, marketing and promotion or more streamlined collaboration.
“Our 24-hour economy strategy highlights the importance of uplifting the unique offerings across the state and showcasing the stories of night-time precincts both here in Sydney and across regional NSW,” Graham added.
Recipients of the pilot program include business collectives from:
- Bathurst
- Byron Bay
- Hunter Valley
- Lennox Head
- Milton
- Murrumbateman
- Murwillumbah
- Sawtell
- Tamworth
- Wagga Wagga
The Regional Night-Time Economy Program will join the Office's portfolio of offerings to businesses and councils to help them develop their night-time economies, including the Uptown District Acceleration Program, Special Entertainment Precincts, Purple Flag Precincts and the Local Government Night-Time Economy Program.