Such is the demand for state government’s regional conferencing unit, another $300,000 has been tipped in to help businesses and organisations hold events in the bush.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the pilot program, launched in August 2017, had seen more than $350,000 provided to 12 business events to assist with venue hire, marketing, and developing touring opportunities to encourage longer stays in NSW.
“It’s anticipated that the 4,600 delegates who are expected to attend the 12 events that have been funded by the program will inject around $2 million into rural and regional communities,” Mr Marshall said.
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President of the Isolated Children's Parents Association Bruce Paynter, whose Mudgee conference last month received $40,000, said the NSW Regional Conferencing Development Grants Pilot Program was a fantastic initiative.
“The grant we received for the 46th Annual ICPA Conference meant that we could deliver a standout event which allowed us to fund initiatives which we hadn’t been able to do before,” he said.
The funds have been spread across the state, including $20,000 allocated for Grain Growers’ Innovation Generation conference at Wagga in July, $40,000 for the Australian International Timber and Woodworking Festival at Bungendore in October, and $50,000 for the North Coast Digital Technology Expo at Port Macquarie in November.