Inner West Mayor Rochelle Porteous has congratulated Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce on taking out Most Outstanding Local Chamber for the Sydney Metro region at the Business NSW awards.
The awards recognise growth and entrepreneurship and celebrate business success.
"This is a fantastic achievement that reflects well on the Chamber and their magnificent work. I love a good news story at a time when our businesses are doing it tough due to the pandemic and extended lockdowns," Mayor Porteous said.
Greg Pattison, Secretary/Treasurer of the Balmain Rozelle Chamber of Commerce said he wanted to thank Council for its support.
"It's always a team effort. Council's Inner West Fest grants and seed funding has given us an opportunity to attract members and gain sponsors. Also, the volunteers on the Executive Committee make it happen so we would like to thank them for their efforts," he said.
Belinda Daly, who is on the Executive Committee said, "Of course, there's so much more to do especially in the post-lockdown recovery but this little win has given us more motivation to keep going to assist our local business community."
Mayor Porteous said Council was focused and committed on getting local businesses back on their feet in the post-lockdown period.
"New Council initiatives such as the Outdoor Dining and Live Performance project will help hospitality bounce back and generate much needed interest and local spend across the Inner West precincts and villages," she said.
"And I'm so pleased that Inner West Fest grants have helped the Chamber find new ways of delivering events and activations which adapt to this new environment.
"Rest assured that our local artists, small business owners, collectives, neighbours and community leaders will all be part of the next phase of Inner West Fest and Edge in February and March, 2022," Mayor Porteous said.
Other initiatives in 2020 and 2021 included:
• Establishing the Inner West Economic Recovery Taskforce to help Council plan and coordinate the post-pandemic economic recovery of the Inner West
• Creating a Special Entertainment Precinct around the Enmore Theatre and Enmore Road
• Supporting the arts industry with $300,000 in grants for COVID-19 relief projects
• Adopting the Night-Time Economy Action Plan
• Developing campaigns to generate local footfall such as the recent Celebrate South King project which included 70 activations
