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Coffs Coast Business News - February 2025
Each month, the City of Coffs Harbour's Economic Development & Tourism Team collates information for all businesses, large and small, across the Coffs Coast - helping you stay informed, keep connected, and feel supported.
We hope you find the newsletter valuable - please feel free to forward it to colleagues and your team. They can also subscribe to receive a copy directly. Previous editions of Coffs Coast Business News are available to view here.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Business events and training
- Optimise your online business for increased sales - Wednesday 12 February
- Morning Bliss Panel: Wellbeing for Women - Thursday 13 February
- Sundown on Summer - Saturday 15 February
- Regional Development Australia Ignite Mini - Monday 24 February
Local news and opportunities
- In case you missed it around the region
- Coffs Harbour to host the prestigious Australian Events Awards and Symposium 2025, 2026, and 2027
- Coffs Harbour Bypass Project Update
- North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Cafe
- Coffs Harbour Monopoly Launch Event
- Have your say
- Coffs Coast Business Survey
- Dorrigo Escarpment Great Walk draft review of environmental factors
- NSW Government proposed Cultural State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP)
- Business NSW Conditions Survey
Grant funding and business support
- Coffs Harbour Grant Finder
- Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System Program
- Priority Hiring Incentive
- Group Training Organisation (GTO) Reimbursement Program
- Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS)
- Priority Wage Subsidy and Hiring Incentive - eeger - where people people grow
What's On Coffs Coast and major event calendar
LOCAL BUSINESS EVENTS
Optimise your business for increased online sales
Join 6 degrees in partnership with NORTEC for this FREE hands-on workshop to refresh your knowledge on the critical components needed to run your online business smoothly. This will help to increase brand awareness, discovery, traffic, conversions and repeat orders to maximise your opportunity in the lead up to and during a busy season.
Wednesday 12 February, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Yarrila Place, 27 Gordon Street
Morning Bliss Panel: Wellbeing for Women
Croissants, Conversations, & Next-Level Vibes
Join the Coffs Coast BWN for an intimate gathering where you’ll nourish both your mind and body. Enjoy a delicious Brekkie Platter + Coffee, while diving into a thought-provoking panel discussion with two incredible experts in mindset and self-nourishment.
Thursday 13 February, 7.00am - 9.00am
The Pav - Jetty Pavilion, 59/361 Harbour Drive
Sundown on Summer
As the sun sets on the season, let's kick back and soak up the last rays of summer in style! Join us for a Sundown on Summer celebration that’s all about fun, friends, and fantastic memories.
Hosted by Woolgoolga & the Northern Beaches Chamber Of Commerce, La Hacienda 101, Sam’s Place and Sunset Social.
Enjoy drinks and food while engaging in light-hearted competition with a bright & beachy scavenger hunt.
Saturday 15 February, 4.00pm - 8.00pm
Market Street, Woolgoolga
Ignite Mini 2025
Join Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast for the Ignite Mini Series, designed to provide opportunity for consultation on the priority areas of the RIF and other key aspects for our Mid North Coast Region.
RIF is a new approach to how the Australian Government delivers regional investment. The priority focus areas include Investing in People, Investing in Places, Investing in Services and Investing in Industries and Local Economies. Other key aspects for our Ignite Mini include Agriculture, Skills, Manufacturing, Energy and Waste.
Monday 24 February, 9.30am - 4.00pm
Coffs Harbour Surf Club
LOCAL NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Check out this monthly snapshot of articles, marketing activities, and campaigns making news across our region and beyond. Here's what's happening:
- Australian Traveller: Every unmissable stop along a Sydney to Yamba road trip
- Australian Traveller: 28 of the best regional bakeries around Australia
- Sydney Morning Herald: The Good Food guide to Coffs Harbour and surrounds
- Intrepid Travel: The Goods 2025 - new trips and experiences
- Westpac: Investing in the regions - Westpac lending data shows regional renaissance for businesses
- Time Out: Move over Melbourne – this surprising city is now Australia’s coffee capital (spoiler alert - it's Coffs!)
- Coffs Coast Blog: Discover Coffs Harbour’s Top Curated Wine Experiences
- Coffs Coast Blog: Celebrating Coffs Coast’s Creative Cocktails
Link Airways: Direct flights from Coffs to Canberra commenced 23 January
Australian Aviation: Link Airways to boost Brisbane service to six flights per week from Coffs
And don't forget - tune into Channel 7 on Friday 21 February for the Better Homes & Gardens Coffs Coast episode!
ALL COFFS COAST BUSINESSES are invited to share these news stories in their business marketing. This is a great way to bring people from out of the area to your business - and the content is already created for you!
Coffs Harbour to host the prestigious Australian Event Awards and Symposium 2025, 2026, and 2027
The partnership between The City of Coffs Harbour and the Australian Event Awards and Symposium comes at a time when our destination is benefitting from new and upgraded accommodation and event spaces. The event will help shine a light on our local businesses and the region.
Since 2009, the Australian Event Awards have recognised and celebrated the best events and achievements across the full scope of the Australian events industry – from conferences, exhibitions and corporate events to major community, sporting, regional, arts, music and cultural events. The Event Symposium also attracts some major industry figures as speakers, from both business events and major events.
Winning events in 2024 included Parrtjima – A Festival in Light, Vivid Sydney, the Santos Tour Down Under, the AIATSIS Summit and start-up awards festival Sunrise Australia. Companies taking home trophies included Dionysus, TDC, Nectar Creative Communications and Artists in Motion.
Coffs Harbour Bypass Project Update
A lot was achieved in 2024, including:
- Started tunnel excavation at Gatelys Road, Shephards Lane and Roberts Hill
- Started construction on all 16 of our bridges including one being open to traffic
- Lifted the Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge steel trusses into place
- Set up concrete and asphalt batch plants
- Started pavement
Cafe operator wanted - Coffs Harbour Botanic Gardens
Have you thought about running your own cafe business, or looking to expand your hospitality footprint? Expressions of Interest are invited to run a quality cafe service using the existing cafe kitchen and adjoining undercover seating area in the entrance building to the Botanic Garden.
EOI Submission deadline extended to: 5pm on FRIDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2025
Coffs Harbour Monopoly Launch Event
Join host Triple M for the official launch event of Coffs Harbour Monopoly and Top Trumps card game. Whether you’re a board game fanatic, a local history enthusiast, or just looking for an unforgettable family day out, don't miss your chance to:
- Meet the legendary Mr. Monopoly
- Roll the dice on the giant Monopoly board featuring Coffs Coast’s most iconic locations
- Enjoy exciting games, activations, and giveaways all day long
Saturday 22 February, 9am - 12pm, 30 Marina Drive Coffs Harbour
Have your say on local topics!
There are four current surveys and planning proposals seeking input and feedback. Now's your chance to have your say and help shape the future of our region. Click on each button to find out more.
- City of Coffs Harbour: Coffs Coast Business Survey
- National Parks & Wildlife Service: Review of environmental factors for the Dorrigo Escarpment great walk
- NSW Government: Proposed Cultural State Environmental Planning Policy
- Business NSW: Business Conditions Survey
GRANT FUNDING & BUSINESS SUPPORT
COFFS HARBOUR GRANT FINDER
The City of Coffs Harbour provides a free service for locals to find grants and grant writing tips. Register to be notified of specific grants for your business or organisation.
Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System Program
Is your business looking to employ an apprentice or trainee? The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations is engaging Apprentice Connect Australia Providers (Providers) to deliver focussed help to better support apprentices and trainees and their employers from before the apprenticeship starts to its successful completion. Some financial support for employers can include:
- Priority Hiring Incentive: Up to $5000 in the first year of an apprenticeship
- Group Training Organisation (GTO) Reimbursement Program: Up to $5200 to reimburse some or all costs of the usual GTO service fees
- Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS): Receive up to $104.30 each week for employers who employ apprentices with disability
- Priority Wage Subsidy and Hiring Incentive: Quarterly, or one-off payments for eligible employers
eeger - where people people grow
The Tourism, Hospitality and Travel industries in Australia are set to experience a transformative shift with the announcement of eeger - a careers and training platform designed to address the challenges of workforce development, skills shortages and career growth in these vital sectors. The platform's introduction comes at a pivotal time for the sector with 691,000 direct tourism jobs in the Australian economy in 2024, up 5.7 percent on last year and a massive increase from the 443,000 jobs in 2022.
eeger is currently in development and will launch in March 2025. Early registrations are now open for individuals and businesses to stay updated on this industry-led initiative.
WHAT'S ON @ COFFS COAST
Muttonbirds by Moonlight Ranger-Guided Tour
14 February
Junior Oztag NSW State Championships
21-23 February
For Food's Sake Conference
27-28 February
Ocean Film Festival
1 March
Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby
Saturday 5 April
Don't miss out on the headline for the 2025 Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby, a thrilling international clash between Japan U23’s, coached by Eddie Jones, and the Australian Barbarians
Please reach out to our team at City of Coffs Harbour if you have any questions.
Check out our 6 degrees business support website for business events and resources.
For tourism industry and visitor economy business support and information, go to our Coffs Coast tourism industry hub.
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