New grant program to put regional nightlife in the spotlight
Regional business groups and organisations across the state looking to uplift their night-time economy will receive support to help them develop thriving, vibrant local economies day and night.
From live music destinations to sporting epicentres and foodie hubs – the pilot round of the NSW Government’s $2 million Regional Night-time Economy Program will support up to 10 regional business collectives in towns across the state over a 2-year period.
The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner consulted with local businesses, local government and industry groups in regional areas to understand the unique needs, challenges and priorities of these regions.
This capacity-building grant program is designed to support organised teams of local businesses to collaborate and further develop vibrant economies in regional NSW as they understand the challenges and opportunities in the community they operate in.
The program will offer tailored bootcamps, funding and ongoing support to regional business collectives to harness opportunities in their area and deliver initiatives that will create more vibrancy from the day into the night.
The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy and Vibrancy Reform work also recognise the importance of uplifting regional night-time economies across the state.
For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/office-of-24-hour-economy-commissioner/regional-night-time-economy-program. The Regional Night-time Economy Program is open for applications on 16 October and will close on 20 November.
24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said:
“It's been a pleasure to visit the different corners of the State since our remit was expanded to include the regions. There are so many great stories, places and events across the State. And while the locale may change, the common thread is groups of businesses who are passionate about elevating their nightlife and the visitor experience.
"This new program has been designed after extensive consultation to understand how we can best enable the night-time economies of our regions. My thanks to the many councils who and local business chambers who have informed the process."
Business NSW Executive Director, Regional NSW and the Visitor Economy Paula Martin said:
“Vibrant regional towns are the lifeblood to local job creation, career pathways for youth and enhanced lifestyle for regional centres. Businesses tell us that one of the barriers to attracting workers to regional centres is the level of activity offered by town centres in the area of entertainment, culture and arts both during the day and at night.
“Programs that advance the activation of town centres helps to stimulate small business growth and in turn jobs for workers close to where they live. Importantly, active towns create a local visitor economy that benefits all industry sectors.”
Contact: media@dciths.nsw.gov.au
Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner
The Office is committed to building safe, vibrant and diverse 24-hour economies statewide. Underpinned by the 24-Hour Economy Strategy, dedicated teams in Programs, Policy, Engagement and Strategy are working to implement initiatives and programs that support this vision. By collaborating with industry, initiatives such as the Vibrancy Reforms, Data After Dark, Neon Marketplace, Uptown District Acceleration Program, Live Performance Venue Program, Special Entertainment Precincts and Purple Flag aim to benefit everyone across NSW, positioning the state and Sydney as global leaders in the night-time economy.