Keeping Mid Coast business local

At a joint launch in Taree, the Federal and State governments have pledged $217,000 to the community from the Bushfire Community Resilience and Recovery Fund Bigger Backyard Project.

The Bigger Backyard Project had been designed to improve local business relationships and create a more diverse and resilient region.

"Even though Black Summer was over a year ago, I can tell you that it is still early days in their recovery, particularly since people's capacity to access services and connect with each other has been undermined by the pandemic," Member for Lyne, David Gillespie said.

"The Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience funding will support a range of projects and programs that are designed to help our communities continue their recovery and build resilience," he said.

"Every business participating in the Biggest Backyard program are pledging to do more business across our region, providing opportunities for our business, our families and our lifestyle. Recognising we are all in this together."

Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead said he looked forward to the region reaping the benefits of this tried and tested program.

"In the face of drought, bushfires and flooding we've seen our community pull together, this program will encourage that mentality to extend into our business communities everyday practice," he said.

"The Bigger Backyard platform will make it easier for local businesses to connect and support each other, so we can build a safer, stronger and more resilient Mid Coast business community."

Forster Tuncurry Business Chamber president, Megan Lewis welcomed the initiative.

"We know it can be easy to do business with the business down the road or around the corner," Ms Lewis said.

"The thing is, we're actually part of a much bigger region and you could be doing more business or finding new partnerships if you had a way of easily connecting with other business owners.

"That's one of the many benefits of the Bigger Backyard Mid Coast project; you'll be able to easily access information of businesses from all parts of our region.

"And they'll be able to find you to do business with you as well."

Business NSW regional manager, Kellon Beard said the program would help the Mid Coast to harness the significant purchasing power that the local business community represented.

"Bigger Backyard has been successfully launched in Northern Rivers and Central Coast with their economies experiencing a threefold return when businesses spend locally so this would be a welcome boost to business sustainability across the Mid Coast if we did the same," Mr Beard said.

Mid Coast Business Chamber president, John Stevens said the Bigger Backyard Mid Coast project would deliver significant benefits to the region.

"We know there is already strong support to shop local within our direct neighbourhoods," Mr Stevens said.

"This project will take that to the next level - encouraging businesses to pledge to swap out of region purchases for a local one and to explore opportunities for partnership across the whole LGA."

Bigger Backyard MidCoast is expected to launch in July.

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