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Jan/Feb 2021 President Report

Hi Members

I trust you all had a successful end of year trade and continues into 2021. Covid Restrictions are easing and hopefully we don't experience a year like 2020 again but we do need to remain alert and ready for changes as they occur.

As a Chamber, it's so pleasing to reflect on the year that was and realise just how resilient and innovative our Griffith Business Community is and the support from Federal Government with Jobkeeper & Jobseeker a great help.

Local Businesses have adapted to think outside the square to keep their business afloat and customers content.

Congratulations to you all.

Business Awards are highly unlikely for 2021, but our Executive team will be working on providing a wonderful entertaining evening for the business community to connect and network. Stay tuned for more details on this HUGE event planned for the last half of 2021.  Side Walk Sale for 2021 is still pending discussion and COVID and will provide more details.

Feedback from our members is very important and we'd love to hear what challenges and win's your business is experiencing - all completely confidential of course. This feedback helps us form our strategy on how to represent all of you.

Upon talking to members, many are experiencing difficulty in recruiting. A few factors could be external which is our of our control - border closures, international travel ban, job seeker/job keeper, but we believe a significant factor the skills shortage gap and housing crisis. This combination makes it difficult to attract NEW people to our area.

Supply issues remain a huge hurdle for our local businesses and I urge all to plan well in advance and for patience.

In 2020, Griffith Business Chamber as a key stakeholder were asked to provide input into Griffith City Council Griffith Economic Development Strategy 2020-2025 commissioned consultants SC Lennon & Associates. This document is designed to provide Council with a strategic direction to support the sustainable development of the local economy and will be released soon for public exhibition. Here are links to the draft version Griffith Economic Development Strategy 2020-2025.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

In summary, this vital document will provide opportunities such as promoting Griffith as a location of choice for business investment, employment, learning and living; using place-based projects and programs to enhance Griffith’s role as the regional service centre of the Western Riverina; supporting economic development by addressing Griffith’s land, housing and essential infrastructure priorities; supporting the development of a skilled workforce and dynamic local business sector; promoting Griffith’s industry drivers including its innovative agricultural sector and its dynamic manufacturing industry; and supporting the emergence and development of a vibrant regional visitor economy.

The outcome will also provide;
-Short-term and long-term goals for economic development in the Griffith LGA;
-Strategies, aspirations, current and future projects for Council and stakeholders;
-Plans for Council to reach and how goals will be monitored;
-Assessment of current workforce and opportunities to attract skilled labour;
-Analysis of economic drivers in the Griffith LGA;
-How current infrastructure supports objectives as well as future infrastructure requirements; and
-Key industry analysis.

We look forward to seeing the Griffith Economic Development Strategy and it's immediate implementation.

Destination Riverina Murray is committed to supporting the region’s tourism industry as it recovers and rebuilds after the global pandemic. The industry is resilient and it will adapt to new ways of doing business to emerge stronger in the future. The Destination Riverina Murray team will also apply these principles and take a new and innovative approach to the way we do things. View the  Destination Riverina Murray NSW 2020 – 2021 Strategic Plan HERE

We have an important event coming up in early February which we need your support please. Future Proofing the MIA & beyond. Lake Mejum – Coolah Storage Project presented well-known Narrandera local DAVID FARLEY. This project has received positive reaction with recent meetings with Phillip Glyde and Sir Angus Houston now is the time to make this happen. For this project to be successful we need the community to be aware and be educated on the benefits so our government will take notice. More details HERE.  We all know that our entire economy is directly affected by water availability, so we as a community must band together and push to see this important project through. Please RSVP and attend.

Kind regards

Paul Pierotti