Bathurst will receive $1.96 million from the Stronger Country Communities Fund over two years.

Applications for projects to be funded in year one open on Wednesday, September 20 and close on Wednesday, October 18, 2017.

Council will co-ordinate the applications for the fund but would like to hear from local organisations that may have projects that are eligible for funding under the Stronger Country Communities Fund.

Projects will have a minimum funding allocation of $100,000 and should align with the aims and objectives of Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

Projects must commence within 12 months and be completed with funds acquitted within two years of the funding approval.

For more information, visit yoursay.bathurst.nsw.gov.au

Lunch with Naomi Simson

THE BizMonth Business Lunch, sponsored by Commonwealth Bank, will feature keynote speaker Naomi Simson at Rydges Mount Panorama on Friday, September 15.

Naomi will demonstrate how to use social media as a customer listening tool, and show programs which will surprise and delight customers. 

Naomi founded online gift experience retailer, RedBalloon. Now an Australian success story, RedBalloon has delivered more than 3.5 million customers to 1500 business partners since humble beginnings in 2001. Naomi is also a television personality on Shark Tank Australia.  

BizMonth is a partnership between Council, Bathurst Business Chamber, Western Advocate, Bathurst City Life and 99.3 B-Rock FM that celebrates success and diversity in local businesses. BizMonth will be held in September, with some great events and activities.

Cost for the business lunch is $60 per person. For more information, visit www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au

OUR region has fostered some amazing sporting talent through the support of some wonderful clubs and sporting infrastructure - but, as with most things, there is always room for improvement.

The NSW Government has announced it will invest $100 million in new and existing sporting infrastructure across regional NSW through the Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund.

We are looking for projects that will not only improve the playing experience, but also the fan experience.

I am looking forward to working with councils and sporting groups to identify projects. Visit www.nsw.gov.au/regionalsportinfrastructure

Flagship Event Fund 

EXPRESSIONS of interest for the 2018 Flagship Event Fund are now open, offering successful applicants a one-off annual grant of $20,000 or a triennial grant of $27,500 per year for three years.

Expressions of interest for the 2018 Flagship Event Fund are open until September 1. Visit http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/rfep

Read all about Book Week 

BOOK Week, which will run from August 19-26, is an opportunity for us to acknowledge the amazing gift of literature.

This year’s theme, “Escape to everywhere”, will pay tribute to our many wonderful Australian authors and illustrators, and I’m sure many books will be shared in homes, schools and libraries this week. Visit www.cbca.org.au/bookweek-2016Education