Gloucester has received a $50,000 grant in the NSW Government’s $1 million Future Towns Program to help MidCoast Council run workshops with the local business community.

The funding is addressing a need identified around digital marketing through the Business Retention and Expansion Survey conducted late last year by the Gloucester Business Chamber with the support of the NSW Department of Industry Office of Regional Development, Advance Gloucester, Destination Gloucester and MidCoast Council. 

Council will run an initial workshop to help develop a program that really meets the needs of local businesses.

The aim is to include opportunities for one-on-one assistance and mentoring, tailor-made training sessions for groups of businesses on topics to address specific aspects of marketing and digital marketing, as well as the opportunity to work as part of a group of businesses to develop a joint online marketing package designed to target a specific market segment.

Businesses from all sectors – whether they be in the manufacturing, retail, tourism, primary production or other industries - interested in becoming more ‘digital ready’ are invited to participate. The Future Towns Program is designed to support regional small businesses to become digital ready and consider innovative ways to undertake place activation in main streets; support economic growth through business facilitation, mentoring and creating the environmental conditions.

Interested businesses are asked to register with the Gloucester Visitor Information Centre on 6538 5253.