Monday, 3 December 2018
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall is calling for organisers of local events planned to be held between July to December next year, to apply for grants from the State Government of up to $20,000 to help attract more visitors and boost local economies.
Mr Marshall said round two of the 2019 Incubator Event and Regional Flagship Funds offered annual grants to events in rural and regional NSW to assist in areas such as marketing, public relations, venue hire and attendee research.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the event owners in our region who need extra support to help their event get off the ground or help it grow into something bigger,” Mr Marshall said.
“The funding grant will assist in attracting more overnight visitors to our region, in the hope they stay longer and spend more time exploring everything our communities have to offer.”
“The Chill ‘n’ Glen Festival and the Outlander Outlandish festival, both in Glen Innes, were funded in previous rounds, helping to attract more overnight visitors and as a result, stimulating the local economy.”
Mr Marshall said the two funds are part of the Regional Flagship Events Program, an important NSW Government strategy designed to support more grassroots events and kick start local economies.
“The government is determined to turbocharge our State’s tourism sector so that every part of NSW reaps the benefits of our record $43 million investment in rural and regional tourism,” Mr Marshall said.
“We are committed to supporting more activity across our regions because when people visit, they stay in local accommodation, buy from local shops and eat at local restaurants and cafes, putting more tourist dollars in the pockets of local businesspeople and creating more jobs.
“I encourage even organisers to take advantage of this opportunity and get their applications filled out and submitted.”
The Flagship Event Fund offers an annual grant of $20,000 or a triennial grant of $27,500 to support marketing activities. The Incubator Event Fund offers grants of up to $20,000 to new events to assist with elements such as temporary infrastructure, marketing and promotions, venue hire or attendee research.
Applications for Round Two of both funds are now open and close on Sunday, 13 January 2019. For more information and to lodge an application, go to www.destinationnsw.com.au/rfep