Cessnock City Council is pleased to announce the latest round of Visitor Economy Grants to boost local business through mid-week tourism.

Organisations or individuals wanting to host events, run projects and hold conferences in the Hunter Valley region are invited to apply for the grants, which provide funding to support mid-week visitation.

The program aims to attract organisations to the Hunter Valley and builds on Council’s aim to facilitate the growth of the Hunter Valley visitor economy.

Cessnock City Mayor Jay Suvaal said attracting mid-week visitation would help create more jobs and boost the local economy.

“Figures show that with just 10% more mid-week visitors we could create up to $15 million of extra cashflow in the Cessnock Local Government Area,” Mayor Suvaal said.

Powerful Perceptions is a local business which has previously received a Visitor Economy Grant from Council. The company used the grant to launch the Plan Your Event Hunter website, an online listing site showcasing everything an individual or organisation could want to plan the perfect event in the Hunter. This includes hospitality services, entertainment, venue hire, styling hire and more.

Plan Your Event Hunter has a particular focus on increasing the revenue of local businesses by boosting midweek visitation to the Hunter region.

The website will allow local businesses to collaborate with one another, enhancing their offerings. It will also give locals with “side hustles” an opportunity to increase their profitability and grow their business.

Powerful Perceptions Director Rachel Fraser said she was passionate about improving small business growth and the socio-economic development of our “beautiful” region.

“I’m convinced that Plan Your Event Hunter will create amazing opportunities for a wide variety of local businesses,” Ms Fraser said.

Applications for the second round of grants will take place between 1 – 28 February 2023.

Past Recipient - Plan Your Event Hunter

Plan Your Event Hunter is one of the local businesses that has received a Visitor Economy Grant from Council.

Plan Your Event has recently launched an easy to navigate website showcasing everything needed to pull off the perfect event in the Hunter. The company is particularly interested in equipping potential visitors with the information they need to secure mid-week group tourism in the form of health and wellness retreats, training days, business conferences, team building activities, multi-day lifestyle events, entertainment, family events and weddings.

Rachel Fraser from Plan Your Event Hunter said Council’s contributions mean better support for all of the local businesses her company interacts with.

“I’m passionate about improving small business growth and the socio-economic development of our beautiful region. I’m convinced that Plan Your Event Hunter will create amazing opportunities for a wide variety of local businesses.”

 

Previous Round Recipients:

The recent round of grant recipients includes:

• 2023 Postie Bike Grand Prix Documentary Sponsorship: $5,000
• 2023 Wine Country Talent Quest Sponsorship: $1,500
• 2024 Wildlife Park Community Day Sponsorship: $10,000
• 2024 Wavemaker National Conference Sponsorship: $7,500