As part of their Business Management Engagement Program 2023, the WSU students will survey businesses in the Blue Mountains area during May and June 2023.
"This is a valuable exercise for us to gather important business information," Acting CEO Hailie Ryzak said.
"It's a particularly timely opportunity for Council, as the community recovers from the COVID pandemic. The information gathered by the students will help us gain an understanding of how effective our assistance to the business community has been, particularly the uptake of the Love Local campaign by businesses."
The Love Local campaign was an initiative started by Council three years ago to celebrate its local towns and villages and to encourage people to support local business.
Council will use the information from the research to guide recommendations that will influence both the private and public sector and it can be used to refresh and update the Love Local campaign in the future.
"By using information gained directly from businesses in our local government area, as well as analysis from initiatives in other local government areas, we can then investigate ways to make our centres more attractive," Ms Ryzak said.
The information will also be presented to businesses for their use in shaping their future initiatives and it could potentially help to inform other advocacy agendas.
Photo: Dave Griffiths from the On the Soul Side Cafe at Katoomba made use of Council's Love Local resources for businesses during COVID-19 lockdown.
