TAMWORTH Regional Council will "step up to the plate" and increase its contribution to the business chamber by $60,000 over the next three years.
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At Tuesday's ordinary meeting, the councillors voted unanimously in favour of the chamber's pitch for more money.
Deputy mayor Phil Betts led off the show of support for the chamber.
He acknowledged there were "tight financial times" being experienced across the nation as well as the ongoing pressures of drought and fires.
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"The impact is being felt across most of the mainland," he said.
"But I think it is time we step up to the plate to back our business community and work side-by-side to build business confidence in the city."
He went to highlight the work the council's director of business and community, John Sommerlad, had done in Nashville.
"He has written reports on how Nashville worked with its chamber and really drives to economy," he said.
Chamber president Jye Segboer spoke at the meeting and said his organisation had track record of return on investment.
If the business community fails, everything else fails.
- Councillor Jim Maxwell
He pointed to last year's shop local campaign driving more than $1 million in sales for participating retailers.
It was a mark which had already been surpassed halfway through this year's campaign.
The promotion has been opened to all shops, not just chamber members, this year.
He also said the Tamworth chamber was "recognised as one of the largest and most progressive in regional NSW".
The chamber's annual awards night also had greater attendances than corresponding events in Sydney and Newcastle, he said.
Manilla's Jim Maxwell also backed the motion for greater support of the chamber.
"If the business community fails, everything else fails," Cr Maxwell said.
The council already makes an annual contribution of $45,000 of cash and in-kind support to the chamber.
From July next year, the council will pay $30,000 of in-kind support and a further $30,000 in cash.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
