May 2020 eNews

A MESSAGE FROM CEO SAM HARMA

RDA Central West has been working hard to support local business during this period. The recent Digital Marketing webinar series had a fantastic response and was well received by participants. For those that missed these webinars they can easily be accessed via the RDA Central West website, here.

Thanks to all the businesses who took the time to complete our recent Business Impact Survey. It made for sobering reading in parts, but good local data will help RDA Central West advocate more effectively on the region’s behalf, to help key decision makers to understand the needs and requirements of our region. RDA Central West will also be conducting a Future Skills Survey to better understand the skills requirement and gaps that currently exist and which face our region moving forward.

74% of respondents said managing cashflow was the biggest issue facing their business during the pandemic. Waiving fees and charges for small business and the payroll tax relief measures announced by the State Government were the two measures best received by participants. The JobKeeper Payment which has started to be received by businesses earlier this month was also seen as an important means of support.

If you would like to know more about the Business Impact Survey or to find out how RDA Central West may be able to support your business, please email: admin@rdacentralwest.org.au[/vc_column_text]

Introducing the TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue

Regional Development Australia Central West is excited to launch the inaugural TEN4TEN Leadership Dialogue.

Under the program, Year 11 students from across Orange, Blayney and Cabonne regions have the chance to be a part of a new mentoring experience with leaders from various sectors of the community and along the way discover what career opportunities are available here in the region.

Ten youth leaders will be partnered with ten community champions for a unique two-way conversation and mentorship.

Students are invited to apply by outlining why they believe they should be selected to take part in the program in 100 words or less.

Applications close Friday, 19 June 2020 and can be submitted online via the RDA Central West website here.

For more information please email RDA Central West at email: grants@rdacentralwest.org.au.

Read more

SISP IS BACK 2020! 

The STEM Industry School Partnership (SISP) Program was a great success in 2019 and is back for another year in 2020.

Despite the recent challenges, the program is adapting and will continue to be rolled across the Orange Network of Schools and broader Central West region.

SISP provides students with an exciting insight into the world of STEM and demonstrates not only how it is applied across multiple industries but what STEM-related career opportunities are available.

Here at RDA Central West, we are looking for new Industry Partners to get involved so if you are a local business and apply STEM in your day-to-day operations we would love to hear from you.

To learn more about SISP you can visit the Department of Education’s website here or email our SISP Industry Liaison Officer, Sophie email: sophie@rdacentralwest.org.au to find out how you can get involved.

Business Leaders Breakfast Series – Part 9
Presenting Stephanie Robinson, CEO, Lifeline Central West
this Friday 29 May at 8am

Join RDA Central West CEO, Sam Harma for a cuppa and a conversation in part nine of our Business Leaders Breakfast series LIVE on Facebook. This week Sam chats with social justice advocate, Lifeline Central West’s CEO, Stephanie Robinson.

So grab a cuppa and tune in to our Facebook page here or
https://www.facebook.com/RegionalDevelopmentAustraliaCentralWest/
at 8am on Friday 29 May to join in on the conversation.

We look forward to seeing you online!

If you would like to listen to previous Business Leaders Breakfasts in the series, simply visit here.

Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program –
Grant Recipients Announced

The Minister for Agriculture, The Hon. David Littleproud MP, has announced the successful applicants for the Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program.

RDA Central West is thrilled to see the Central West region is well represented among the 32 successful grant recipients, with the Condobolin Show, the Cowra Show, the Parkes Show, the Tullamore Show, the Woodstock Memorial Show and the Bedgerebong Show due to receive funding that will help keep their agricultural shows running and invigorate their local communities.

Read more about the grants and winners 

Small Business COVID-19 Support Grant

To ease the pressure on thousands of small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSW Government has announced a COVID-19 Small Business Support Grant as part of the NSW Government Small Business Support Fund.

If your small business or non-profit organisation has experienced a significant decline in revenue as a result of COVID-19, you may be eligible for the small business support grant of up to $10,000.

Applications close 1 June, 2020.

For further details 

Community Building Partnership

Applications for the 2020 round of the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership grant opened on 4 May and close on 12 June, 2020.

The grant supports infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes, while promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils are eligible to apply for grants of between $2,500 and $300,000.

Access to REMPLAN

RDA Central West now has access to economic and community data through REMPLAN.  REMPLAN are specialists in providing area-specific data. They are a team of economists, planners, demographers, economic development specialists, analysts and software developers who create online analytical tools and information resources.

This data can provide an interesting snapshot of both the economic and social composition of our regions, as well as estimate how changes to employment numbers or output across an individual sector/s will impact the economic output across the region.

If you would like further information about REMPLAN, or are seeking specific data to support your grant application, please contact RDA Central West’s Grants Officer via email: grants@rdacentralwest.org.au

Visit REMPLAN

We appreciate this is a very tough time for many businesses, employees
and communities and we’d like to assure you that RDA Central West will
continue to support our region as best we can.

We wish good health for you, your families and colleagues.

Please feel free to contact us anytime
t. (02) 6369 1600 or e. admin@rdacentralwest.org.au

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