THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS POLICY REVIEW · Attachment 1 Review of Noosa Council Economic Development Grants Program

            Buy Local Campaign
            A targeted ‘Buy Local' campaign including regular marketing and promotion by Council
            throughout the calendar year and via traditional media, social media, web promotions,
            residential communications, and other messaging opportunities.
            Shop and business entry branding reinforces that Noosa’s supports its businesses (not just in the
            retail sector) will provide a consistent message to the local community to encourage them to
            support local businesses.
            Such consumer campaigns are a popular local government practice in supporting the local
            business community across all sectors.


iv.         Individual Stakeholder Feedback
      •     Application process is too arduous and time consuming.

      •     Difficulty in meeting / matching the EDGP criteria.

      •     Larger funding applications through the EDGP program are difficult and too demanding on
            applicant resources.

      •     Provide a simplified EDGP application process.

      •     Applicants are faced with too many barriers and matching project needs with the grant criteria
            is difficult.

      •     The type of project opportunities that qualify for the EDGP need to be clear and widened.

      •     The processing of larger grants is time consuming for all concerned.

      •     Grant project opportunities that align with the Noosa Council EDS need to be made clear.

      •     Why fill out an application form that is resource intensive and then duplicate the application
            process on Smarty Grants Program. Why not a more simplified process ‘once’ on the Smarty
            Grants Program.

      •     Offer smaller grants that can easily be dispersed.

      •     Offer smaller grants for businesses to network, say up to $2K e.g., pay for speaker costs,
            workshops, training and skills development experts, business mentoring, etc.

      •     Open the EDGP to include small grants for Business Precinct Place Activation initiatives.

      •     More flexibility in the type of projects that can qualify for EDGP funding.




          Noosa Shire Council | Economic Development Grant Program Review                                    16