Help enhance city’s retail areas by applying for new business grants

Local business owners with great ideas that could help enhance the vibrancy of the city’s retail precincts are encouraged to apply for a new City of Wagga Wagga grants program.

The Economic Development Grants 16/17 program is offering business owners, or people thinking about establishing a new retail business, grants of up to $3000 to help transform the look and feel of retail areas in Wagga.

The program is a joint initiative with the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber.

"The grants are about re-investing in the city’s streetscape and increasing pedestrian activity in retail areas," Manager Economic Development & Visitor Economy Richie Robinson said.

"There is no reason why Wagga can’t have its own version of Melbourne’s Lygon Street or Brisbane’s South Bank or Rundle Mall in Adelaide.

"These locations are well-known for being thriving, bustling meeting hubs. They create a welcoming atmosphere and have strong economic flow-on effects."

Parking trials in Wagga’s CBD, which have created 40 centre-of-the-road parking spaces in Kincaid Street and increased timed-parking along sections of Fitzmaurice Street, will help cater for any increased activity in the CBD.

Projects supported through the grants include providing alfresco dining, busker or street performer spaces, lighting and street facade improvements, initiatives that encourage increased pedestrian activity or creation of meeting places.

A total of $12,500 worth of funding is available through the 2016/17 Program with grants available from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $3000 per project.

To be eligible applicants must make a financial (not in-kind) contribution either equal to or greater than the value of funding awarded through the program.

Applicants are encouraged to make a submission prior to November 30 to ensure consideration in the first round of assessments.

For more information or to make an application visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/edgrants