As BizWeek continues, Bathurst Regional Council invited the city’s businesses to come along to a free workshop on ‘Brand Awareness in a Heritage City’ on Tuesday.

More than 60 local business owners took up the opportunity to attend the workshop led by marketing expert Karyn Taylor and council strategic planning manager Janet Bingham.

Mayor Gary Rush used the workshop to announce that council grants are available to businesses in the CBD to help preserve the city’s heritage.

Grants of between $300 and $5000 are available to pay for up to 50 per cent of the costs of works such as the reinstatement of verandahs, maintenance of brick or stone work, repainting facades and removing inappropriate signage.

Cr Rush said the Bathurst Main Street Review will also continue to identify opportunities for building improvements in the CBD.

“The reviews, coupled with the improvement fund will build on the work already occurring in our CBD to capitalise on our history and heritage and to ensure we continue to have a vibrant retail sector but one that reflects our architectural past,” he said.

Among those to attend the workshop were representatives from hospitality, tourism and accommodation providers, volunteer groups and local retailers.

Bathurst Family History Group members Jacqui Rudge, Dianne Barnes and Graeme Hill were among those at the workshop.

And, while the group is not a business, Ms Barnes said it is vital that they operate in the same way.

“We are a history group so heritage is very important to us,” she said.

Ms Rudge said she came away from the workshop with a number of ideas for the history group.

“It was basic information, but I think you really need to be reminded of that,” she said.

“Council wants businesses to own the importance of heritage.”