Drought Communities Funding to support Local Businesses

Published on 05 November 2018

Gilgandra Shire Council will use $50,000 from the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Programme fund to support local businesses with a shop local program to commence next week.

Residents will simply need to collect $50 in receipts from any business in the Gilgandra Shire and place the receipts in a specially marked entry envelope and into the entry barrel that will be located in the Gilgandra Community Plaza.

Weekly draws will be conducted for Coo-ee Cash Cards, the preloaded shopping cards that can be spent at any business in Gilgandra with an activated EFTPOS machine.

Week one, commencing Monday 12 November, will see 20 draws for $500 cards and the 4 weeks following will see 10 weekly draws for $1000 shopping  cards. Winners will be drawn each Monday at 9am.

Acting Mayor, Cr Ash Walker says Council fully understand how the drought has impacted small businesses, particularly retail and service type businesses.

“When the Drought Communities Programme was discussed at a Council workshop, Council acknowledged that many of our businesses are doing it tough and also have nearly no opportunity for access to any sort of financial assistance.”

Adding,

“The goal of this program is to see a guaranteed injection of $50,000 directly into the local economy at a time out year when there is normally increased spending for harvest and also the lead up to Christmas.”

There is no cost for local businesses to participate, however Council is encouraging those businesses without EFTPOS look into getting a device with their bank.

Not only is this $50,000 only available to those businesses with activated EFTPOS devices, the Coo-ee Cash Card has now become the preferred method of distributing drought assistance support and also leading into Christmas, people will be able to purchase these cards and give them as gifts.

The program builds off the success of the Shop Local Program and encourages people to shop in the Gilgandra Shire. There are not many communities giving locals the opportunity to share in $50,000.

Businesses will receive a poster and envelopes on Monday, 12 November and residents are encourage to start collecting their receipts from Monday morning.

Different to previous years, the barrel will emptied after each draw held on Monday mornings at 9am. The aim of this is to encourage people to keep entering while ensuring boosting sales in the Shire as soon as possible.

For local businesses, if you miss out on envelopes or posters they will be stored at 3D Butchery or you can contact Council’s Economic Development Manager Randall Medd on 6817 8800.