The awards have been going from strength to strength since being revamped a few years ago, and Business Chamber president Jye Segboer hopes that trend will continue as nominations start to roll in.

"Now more than ever we really need the community to get behind, and show support for local businesses, who are doing it tough with the drought," he said.

"It is not just shopping locally, just a positive impact which I think the awards can really give this year with locals nominating their favourite business."

While nominations officially opened on Friday, the online portal opened on Thursday, with one keen shopper getting in early to vouch for Da Nanna's Fish and Chips on Robert Street, who have also been nominated as a contender in the Australian Fish and Chip Awards.

Meanwhile the chamber is expecting the nominations to begin rolling in in earnest next week, on the back of last year's awards having a record amount of nominations, resulting in a record 500 individual businesses nominated, and then a record 830 people attend the gala Awards night at the TRECC.

"We hope the awards are still well supported and we hope more people nominate this year given how tough business is, and that includes Nundle, Barraba and Manilla - it is really important that those communities feel involved as well," Mr Segboer said.

"The last few years we have had a big shift and change in the awards, so this year there are no big changes, we are just focussed on getting as many people involved as possible."

Businesses can be nominated via the Business Chamber website up until June 21, with the awards to be held on August 9.