Further information from Ausindustry re grants and other business opportunities

Hi All

Here is our summer version of our newsletter Ausindustry Regional Managers News January 2012

just a few key points of note

• TCF Small Business Program – closing 24.2.12
• Clean Technology Investment and Innovation Programs – Register your interest
• Changes to Commercialisation Australia
• Wage Connect Subsidy

If you would like to contact us regarding any of the above or you have any questions regarding any of AusIndustry programs, please phone: (02) 40 145 977

Regards

Jo Fisher

Regional Manager

Central Coast, Hunter & North Coast

AusIndustry

Tel: +61 2 40 145 977 | Mob: 0410 221 708 | Fax: +61 2 603 847

jo.fisher@innovation.gov.au

_______________________________________________________________

Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education

IDC – Hunter, Level 1

University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308

PO Box 189, Hunter Region Mail Centre NSW 2310

Hotline: 13 28 46 | hotline@ausindustry.gov.au

www.ausindustry.gov.au

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Online Newsletter: AusFocus

ABN 74 599 608 295

From January 1, 2012 you may be eligible to receive around $5700 for each new employee, or around $220 per week (pre-GST), to subsidise the costs of wages and training for the first six months your eligible employee is in the job.

Please see pdf for full details Wage Connect Subsidy flyer

Hello -

The Capacity Building Initiative is a free mentored fundraising program for non-profits wanting to raise their abilities and increase philanthropic funding results. All applicants approved to take part are awarded a grant by The Pratt Foundation.

Applications are opening later this month. Would you please inform any charities important to you, and who may benefit from better fundraising results, that they can apply if they wish?

Applications can be received by going to the website at www.capacitybuilding.com.au and then going to the Application Process page.

Feel free to contact me with any questions and thanks a lot for helping get the word out to non-profits.

Paul Leventhal, Program Presenter

The Capacity Building Initiative

inquiries@capacitybuilding.com.au

mob: 0415 272 642

Tourism update …..

100 Mile Dinner

Congratulations to Fiasco Restaurant for winning the starter category of the 100 mile dinner, this event took place in Sydney last weekend with TAFE students service the regions three courses, all of which were superb. This highlights the array of locally grown produce.

Regional Tourism Grant

There were 62 submissions received for the stream one regional tourism grant which closed on the 21st October, the Mid North Coast RTO have been working through the applications to determine which submissions will be considered.

COLD CHISEL CONCERT COFFS HARBOUR – Fri Nov 4

BUS ARRANGEMENTS

Concert information: CONCERT LOCATION HOCKEY FIELDS, CNR STADIUM DRIVE & PHIL HAWTHORNE DRIVE, COFFS HARBOUR.

GATES OPEN 5PM

FIRST BAND 5.45PM

CONCERT FINISHES 10PM

Location of put down & pick up as per previous NRL football games, Stadium Drive within short walking distance of concert entrance.

PRHIBITED ITEMS : No alcohol, no bottles, no glass, no cans, no skateboards, no chairs, no milkcrates or boxes, no umbrellas, no studded belts or wristbands etc. No club patches or jackets, no fireworks, no weapons, no drugs , no videotaping , no professional still cameras with removable lens (small cameras are allowed), no laser lights , no water pistols (see below also).

PARKING

Parking is available on site. However we encourage people to park AWAY from the site at one of these locations.

1/In town COFFS CDB

2/Coffs Racecourse Howard St.

3/Centro Toormina

FREE buses will run from & back to these locations as below .

BUSWAYS – will run a bus from Racecourse & Park Ave Coffs Harbour

BEFORE CONCERT x 1 bus

Depart Racecourse Howard St , from 5pm

Depart Park Ave outside Crazy Clarks from 5.15pm

Proceed to Concert site

Return to Racecourse

Repeat at 5.30pm , 6pm , 6.30pm , 7pm & 7.30pm

AFTER CONCERT @ 10PM x 3 buses

Buses proceed to clear patrons going FIRST to Racecourse and then Park Ave as required.

SAWTELL COACHES will run a bus from Centro Toormina Road, Toormina.

BEFORE CONCERT x 1 bus

Centro Toormina from 5pm

Proceed to Concert site

Return to Centro

Repeat at 5.30pm , 6pm , 6.30pm ,7pm & 7.30pm

AFTER CONCERT @ 10PM x 2 buses

Buses proceed to clear patrons as required & return to Centro Toormina .

PROHIBITED ITEMS LIST COLD CHISEL CONCERT FRI NOV 4 COFFS HARBOUR

· Glass

· Chairs (folding, portable, camping)

· Alcohol

· Laser lights

· Cans

· Anything studded, i.e. belts, wristbands etc.

· Drugs

· Umbrellas

· Skateboards

· No club patches or jackets allowed

· Video and tape recording devices.

(Bring a plastic poncho or a raincoat instead.)

· Milk/bread crates

· Weapons of any kind

· Fireworks

· Professional still cameras w/ removable lens.

· Water pistols or; Any other items deemed to be potentially dangerous or disruptive by the promoters at their sole discretion.

- Small still cameras ARE allowed.

Enterprise Connect Assistance

Tourism firms can apply for Enterprise Connect assistance. Eligible tourism firms will be entitled to the full range of Enterprise Connect services and client documentation will be available on the Enterprise Connect website shortly.

Enterprise Connect Program (www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au) now available to tourism operators.

Eligibility

To be eligible for EC services, tourism firms must:

possess an Australian Company Number (ACN);

have a turnover of more than $1 million and under $100 million in the current financial year or three preceding financial years;

be solvent;

have operated in Australia and filed Business Activity Statements showing ongoing trading in at least three full consecutive years;

be a tourism business that derives a significant portion of its turnover from tourist accommodation, tourist attractions, experiential tourism, the operation of tours, or travel agency services. The business must derive a significant portion of its turnover from tourists (people who have travelled for a round trip distance of at least 50 kilometres from home), and would either cease to exist in its present form, or would be significantly affected, if tourism were to cease;

comply with its obligations under the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 (EOWA).

Businesses whose primary trade is retail, cafes, restaurants, or take away food suppliers are not eligible under the tourism category.

National Tourism Industry Network

To support the growth and competitiveness of the tourism sector, a National Tourism Industry Network (NTIN) will be established within Enterprise Connect. Modelled on the existing Food Network, NTIN, will be led by Tasmanian State Director Keith Calvert. Keith will soon be seeking nominations from Business Advisers for NTIN representation in each state. Similar to the Food Network, these Business Advisers will become a conduit within the network and become central contact point for the NTIN in each state.

Free business review and benchmarking and up to $20k ($ for $) Grant available to improve businesses for eligible activities.

For further information contacts: Keith Calvert: Tel: 03 6433 8001, M: 0420 961 125

Email: Keith.Calvert@innovation.gov.au

Celebrate International Year of Forests in local national parks

The International Year of Forests provides a great opportunity for people to connect with nature and explore the hidden delights of local national parks with a knowledgeable Discovery Ranger. Check out these upcoming activities:

Big Tree Explorer – Saturday 5th November 2011

MEET: Dorrigo Rainforest Centre, Dorrigo National Park

START: 9.00 am (ends 4 pm) DURATION: 7 Hours COST: $75 per vehicle, incl morning tea, map & brochure.

BRING: Lunch, plenty of drinking water, a broad-brimmed hat, sunscreen and walking shoes.

GRADE: Medium – Includes lunch stop & short walks.

DETAILS: Come on a journey back in time, a vehicle-based day of exploration to admire some of the most magnificent old trees left in the region. We visit Cascade and the Nymboi-Binderay national parks, having lunch on the banks of the wild and scenic Nymboida River.

Learn about the early timber getting history of this area; see ancient tallowwood and brushbox trees, as well as some of the largest remaining red cedar on the plateau. A number of short walks will take us back to days when all the hard work was done on the end of a cross-cut saw and timber was hauled by bullock or steam trams to local mills.

VEHICLE: Although, as with all our Explorer tours you will need your own 4WD vehicle, the route taken is 2WD-accessible on formed gravel roads. Please ensure your vehicle is fuelled up and has a working spare tyre kit. Morning tea is provided by NPWS.

MAXIMUM NUMBER = 8 vehicles max. DISCOVERY RANGERS: Anita Menhofer & Area Ranger Anton Ingarfield

Bookings essential on 02 66572309

Sherwood 4WD Explorer – Saturday 26 November 2011

MEET: Woolgoolga Creek picnic area, Sherwood Nature Reserve: west from the roundabout on the Pacific Hwy, Woolgoolga.

START: 9.00 am (ends 4 pm) DURATION: 7 Hours COST: $75 per vehicle, including morning tea.

BRING: 4WD vehicle with good clearance; lunch, plenty of drinking water, a hat and walking shoes.

GRADE: Medium – good clearance needed, but good condition gravel/sandy roads. Includes lunch stop & short walks.

DETAILS: A very special all-day 4WD vehicle-based tour with stunning views, into the spectacular and ancient sandstone landscapes and taking in enormous old growth forest trees of Sherwood Nature Reserve, northwest of Coffs Harbour. The tour celebrates the International Year of Forests by traversing a staggering range of forest communities, from the warm subtropical rainforests of Woolgoolga Creek to the dry sandstone heath of Sherwood plateau. You’ll look over the Orara valley (morning tea supplied by NPWS) towards the coast from Get Lost Trail, where we have lunch. We’ll explore the rich Aboriginal cultural heritage values of the area, expertly interpreted by Aboriginal Discovery Ranger, Mark Flanders.

MAXIMUM NUMBER = 8 vehicles max. DISCOVERY RANGERS: Mark Flanders & Area Ranger Gina Hart

Bookings essential on 02 6652 0900

Never Never Forest Revealed – Saturday 26 November 2011

MEET: Never Never Picnic Area, Dorrigo National Park

START: 9.00 am (ends 3 pm) DURATION: 6 Hours COST: Child $6, Adult $12, Family $36

BRING: Bring lunch and snacks, plenty of water, wide brimmed hat, sunscreen and shoes suitable for walking.

GRADE: Medium to hard – The walk will take 6 hours including lunch break. It is mostly level, but has some steep parts and one steep descent to, and return climb from Cedar Falls. The track is a single-file natural path and contains sections with steep drop-offs.

DETAILS: Join our Discovery ranger on a full-day walk into magnificent warm temperate rainforest in Dorrigo National Park. One of the most varied walking tracks in the area, this lovely, natural path winds its way through different forest types. The rarely walked Blackbutt Track features giant brush box, crab apple and beautiful examples of the restricted Dorrigo plum. We can pick one of a number of picturesque waterfalls for our lunch stop. The journey into this little visited gem of Dorrigo National Park is facilitated with a car shuffle at the start of the walk, and finishes at the Never Never picnic area.

MAXIMUM NUMBER = 20 PEOPLE DISCOVERY RANGER: Anita Menhofer

Bookings essential on 02 66572309

Web-link for Discovery activities is Upper North Coast

Or go to the Wild Wild World Website for these and all state-wide events and activities www.wildwildworld.com.au

Bookings are required for some activities and participant fees may apply.

For more information contact your local NPWS office:

Dorrigo 6657 2309

Coffs Coast 6652 0900

Mid North Coast Visitor Numbers increase by 7.1 per cent

Mid North Coast received over 3.1 million domestic overnight visitors – up by 7.1 per cent on the year ending March 2011 according to latest research from Destination NSW. Those visitors spent nearly 12.1 million nights in the region, up 8.7 pet cent on the same period last year. The number of domestic overnight trips to regional New South Wales increased by 3.1 per cent on last year. The majority of those visitors were from regional NSW contributing more than Sydney for both visitors and nights. The Mid North Coast received 83 per cent of visitors and 80 per cent of nights from the total intrastate market. Interstate visitors contributed 17 per cent of visits and 20 per cent of nights with Queensland the largest interstate market for both visitors and nights.

Holiday and leisure at 58.7. per cent was the largest purpose for visitors to the region followed by visiting friends and relatives at 31.9 per cent and 6.1 per cent for business. Holiday or leisure was the largest purpose in terms of nights in the region at 66.7 per cent. Belinda Novicky, Executive Officer for the Mid North Coast believes that these figures represent excellent growth for our region.

Our next tourism meeting will be held on Thu the 17th November at the NEW Plantation Hotel which opens under guidance of Harry Barry next Tues.

Please diarise 17:30 for an 18:00 start where the new branding for the region will be unveiled.

Regards

Tracey Adendorff

Executive Officer

Ph: 6651 7766

www.coffstourism.com

http://www.communitybuildingpartnership.nsw.gov.au/

Community Building Partnership 2011

The NSW Government will conduct the Community Building Partnership (CBP) program in 2011. The CBP program provides funds for community groups and local councils to invest in community infrastructure throughout the State.

In 2009, 1,180 grants were approved for community groups and local councils to build or upgrade local facilities. In 2010, a total of 1,775 grants were approved.

Community organisations and local councils are once again encouraged to apply for funding to build and improve community facilities in their local area. Grant funding of up to $300,000 is available for every electoral district with an additional $100,000 for the forty eight electorates previously identified with higher unemployment rates.

Timetable

Project Schedule Deadlines

14 September 2011       Applications open

24 October 2011           Closing date for registration of Organisation by Applicants

31 October 2011           Applications close

6 December 2011         Complete application checking against eligibility criteria completed

7 December 2011 – 13 January 2012     Local MPs consult with their communities and assessment of applications commence by Local MPs and Independent Review Committees

March 2012                 Announcement of successful projects and formal offers and documentation provided to applicants

30 September 2012   Applicants to obtain final planning for construction projects where required

31 March 2013          All projects completed and grant money spent

kind regards

Suzie

Suzie Coulston | Community Economic Development Manager | Enterprise, Small Business & Regional Development Unit |Trade & Investment NSW | Level 3 | 218 Molesworth Street | Lismore NSW 2480 | PO Box 146 | Lismore NSW 2480

T: 02 6622 6145| F: 02 6621 4609 | M: 0457 542 697 | E: suzie.coulston@business.nsw.gov.au |

W: www.industry.nsw.gov.au | www.business.nsw.gov.au

Also have a look at Oxley and Coffs Harbour state seats for more details.

Hi everyone,

For your information.

The NSW Government has prepared a fairly comprehensive guide for NGOs about seeking grants. Just click on the link below.

It is targeted at organisations that may not have the capacity or resources to effectively apply for grants. You may find it of use in your liaisons with providers and community service providers. There are some good links at the end of the guide.

Please feel free to circulate to organisations you think could benefit from this manual

www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/grantseekermanualfinal.pdf

Cheers

Stuart

Stuart Allardice

Manager Economic Development and Tourism

Bellingen Shire Council

PO Box 117

Bellingen NSW 2454

Mob:0428670357

Ph:02 6655 7306

Fax:66552310

Email:sallardice@bellingen.nsw.gov.au

” It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change” Charles Darwin.

MINISTER RECOMMENDS CATEGORY C ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Michael Gallacher, has today written to the Premier, recommending activation of Category C assistance in respect to the June mid-north coast floods.

“Now that the flood waters have completely subsided, the damage caused by the recent floods is clear,” Minister Gallacher said.

“The Department of Primary Industries has taken the time to complete a very comprehensive assessment of the destruction caused by the June deluge.

“Based on this advice and on the recommendation of the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services, I have decided that Category C assistance is needed for eight local government areas including, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Nambucca, Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Greater Taree and Gloucester.

Minister Gallacher noted that under Category C of the Commonwealth/State Government funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, eligible farmers and small business owners would be able to apply for cash grants.

“The purpose of the grants – which are for a maximum of $15,000 – will be to assist farmers and small business owners to clean up and recover from the floods.” Minister Gallacher concluded.

The Department of Primary Industries will continue to assess and review damage reports for other Local Government Areas affected by the recent floods.

Pending Commonwealth Government approval, the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) will administer and process applications for primary producer/small business grants.

Farmers and small business owners seeking more information about the kinds of assistance they may be eligible for can contact the Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593.

Good Afternoon everyone

There is a great deal occurring at the moment so I just thought a quick email was needed.

Flood Funding:

- Belinda has coordinated a response and request for $400,000 to promote the Mid North Coast is open for business. We requested the promotions lead to www.pacificcoast.com.au. Belinda will keep you posted on the outcome

Visitor Information Services:

- Currently Northern Rivers are undertaking a study into Regional Visitor Services Strategy. It is a comprehensive study (grant from Dept I + I). Northern Rivers have agreed to show us a copy of the report due for completion at the end of this year. I know this is a hot topic at the moment in many LGA’s and will provide some important NSW regional data for discussion.

Legendary Pacific Coast:

- Cameron Arnold (Chair of Northern Rivers) and I met with the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for the North Coast to provide an update on the LPCTR and the importance of the program to our industry and wider regional economies. It was an excellent meeting. Belinda has a PCTR board meeting latest this month and will provide a further update after that meeting. It is now important for us to keep communicating with the Ministers on our progress and timeline with the RTA on the $5 million signage rollout.

Tourism Awards:

- I know times are a little tough for our industry but please encourage your members to submit and / or attend the awards night.

Product Development Funding:

- Later today or tomorrow Belinda will email the information and appropriate links for the $250,000 product development funding for the MNC. This money is a direct result of FORTO ie us as a regional tourism organisation working with the new government on delivering outcomes for regional NSW. This is a very exciting program for us to manage and I hope each of you communicate to all your operators this important initiative. The second round, $2 million for large scale projects, will be ready in a few weeks to access application forms and Belinda will let you know).

Regional Partnership Program – 2012 onwards

- The MNC Board had an excellent meeting last week discussing options and the way forward. There are still some discussions occurring at a state level of how all programs move forward. Under Destination NSW there will be a 4 member Visitor Strategy committee whose aim is to ensure double tourism expenditure by 2020. Over the next few weeks we should have a better idea of our funding and we will then call a regional reference group meeting so we can all decide our path forward.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call Belinda. I just wanted to give you a quick update as Chair. Belinda will be emailing information soon re product development

As always thank you for your ongoing support of the RTO. We are growing from strength to strength and we are the leading RTO due to our excellent relationships with local government and tourism operators.

Kind regards – and may school holidays be busy!

Kathy Balodis

Chair – MNCRTO

Kathy Balodis

Macquarie Waters Boutique Apartment Hotel

11 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444

Tel: 1800 70 25 35 or 02 6580 0291

Email: kathy@mwaters.com.au

Please see attached extract of the Disaster Relief Recovery Grants which advises the closing date for application for grants is 30 June 2011.

Kellon Beard

Regional Manager | NSW Business Chamber

146-148 Gordon Street Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Tel: +612 6584 0910 | Mob: 0427 767 246 | Fax: 02 6584 0930

Web: www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au

Disaster relief prnsy057@nswbc.com.au_20110624_095721