The establishment of the Cowra Business Chambers’s Hub is one step closer after Cowra Shire Council this week voted to give notice of its intention to provide financial assistance to the project of up to $58,363.64 for a two year period.
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The proposed Hub will serve as a venue for a substantial training, mentoring and skills development program the Chamber has been developing in conjunction with Charles Sturt University, CenWest Innovate, TAFE and other training providers.
In addition the space would provide a temporary venue for local Cowra businesses to conduct their activities on a fee for service basis as well as be a base for Chamber operations.
Council is being asked to fund the lease and utility payments that amount to $58,363.64 excluding GST over a 24 month period.
Cowra mayor Bill West said the proposal to fund the project would be open to comment for 28 days.
“Council is often criticised for not helping the business community, this is an opportunity to do so,” Cr West said.
“We can’t be all things to all people but this is something we can do, I believe, to help the business community get stronger in our shire.
“This will also help some of our businesses to be perhaps a little more resilient,” he said.
Referencing the current drought conditions Cr West said: “we are in a difficult period, but it will rain eventually and this will give businesses, whether they are small retail, manufacturing or tourism related, an opportunity to grow and develop”.
“This is quite exciting but we have to go through the process (or advertising our intention),” Cr West said.
Cr Bruce Miller told this week’s council meeting, “We want to encourage our business community learn how to do things better and to encourage new businesses as well”.
“It will be money well spent.
‘There is an opportunity for other members of the business community and the wider community to ask questions in the 28 period and say whether this is a project the council should be supporting.
“It is really important that we get some agreements in place if we are going to support this.
“We need to be able to measure the success or otherwise (of the project).
“We have expended a lot of ratepayers money in the past to keep doors open and protect jobs but this has the potential to reach a much broader scale and educate employees as well as employers,” Cr Miller said.
