A huge thankyou to Amanda for the great work she has done getting our new website www.griffithbusinesschamber.com.au – it has taken a couple of years to get right & our local provider Veritech has been very good to work with, please browse through & we welcome feedback. We are excited to change the way we communicate and deliver Chamber information to our members! Our new website is filled with the latest business related information, what's on, past newsletters, blog, presidents reports and everything you need to know about your local chamber.
I would like to encourage anyone who would be willing to step up to take an Executive role on Griffith Business Chamber to think about it now as we will be asking for nominations in October leading up to next month’s AGM on 19th October. More information will be released soon.
Our next members event will be held on Thursday 28th September 2017. Presentation - EXPORT TO ASIA - This is a brilliant opportunity to explore the challenges, opportunities & pathway forward with International Air Freight through Canberra International Airport. Read more here.
The Griffith region has & is going through significant change some of it very positive but with these changes we are struggling with significant skills gaps & housing shortage issues.
We are pleased that Griffith City Council have successfully been awarded a $50,000 grant & together with Griffith Business Chamber plus local business dollar for dollar funding in total close to $100,000, we will be launching our joint “Griffith Now Hiring” project later this month. This initiative is all about encouraging people to relocate to the Griffith region to live & work. With 3 key messages....great lifestyle, affordable housing and plenty of jobs. The Today Show will launch this while broadcasting live for 3 & ½ hours in Griffith Wednesday 27th September. We are sure to get some great national exposure.
We need Griffith City Council to pull out all stops to urgently encourage new housing developments & land release.
Last month’s members event with HIA Economist Tim Reardon was very enlightening & he was quoted saying
“We are at the start of the Golden Age of Agriculture for which Griffith is in the box seat.”
We bid farewell to our long time Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli with a much sooner than expected impending Murray Bi–Election.
With this coming State Bi-election on Saturday 14th October, we must stand together to see immediate improvements to our struggling Base Hospital & then see that the role out for an overdue new hospital is sooner rather than later.
It is not acceptable that a Regional hospital like Griffith Base does not even provide Orthopaedic surgery & many other necessary services.
We need to address the “Brain Drain” of Griffith by keeping our youth here to be educated past high schools to stay, live & work. Our high schools must achieve better results.
Our public passenger air transport options need improvement with Melbourne route options & affordability. Freight transport – rail, road & air options need immediate improvement & review.
Basin Plan, irrigation & water supply issues for our region are still far from achieving the greatest potential.
We must cut red & green tape to encourage investment.
So with these and many more issues please ensure the candidate you vote for is best placed to acknowledge the situation & fight for our region rights & our needs.
We are delighted that 4 local businesses were announced as finalists in The 2017 Murray-Riverina Regional Business Awards. They are;
Excellence in Sustainability Blooms The Chemist & DeBortoli Wines
Excellence in Business & Employer of Choice & Excellence in Export - Flavourtech
Young Entrepreneur Belinda Johns - Straight Lines Design & Marketing
Winners will be announced at a Gala Night to be held on 15th September in Albury, good luck to all!
Kind regards
Paul Pierotti