Support and information from NSW Government

The NSW Government provides information and resources for businesses including COVID-19 Safety Plans to protect staff and customers, financial relief and personalised support.

We encourage businesses to stay up to date with current legislations and restrictions and take advantage of the programs and support that is available to NSW businesses.

• For more information on how to become a COVID Safe business and for resources such a planning templates visit the NSW Government website.
• Keep up to date with the NSW COVID-related legislation that applies to your business and keep your COVID Safe plan up to date. 

• The NSW Government also provides a ‘Business Concierge’ service for small businesses impacted by the NSW bushfires and/or COVID-19 (coronavirus) to guide you through changes to regulations and the assistance available to small businesses. 

Grant funding for businesses

• ‘Central Coast Grant Finder’ is an online tool to easily find all relevant grant funding opportunities for all types of businesses covering areas such as research and development, innovations, sustainability, manufacturing, agriculture, information technology, medical and biotechnology. Grants are available to start, establish or expand a business.  Grant Finder is available on Council’s website and free to access.

Hospitality and tourism businesses

• For COVID safe business planning resources and helpful links for hospitality and tourist facing businesses visit Destination NSW.
• Council encourages businesses to continue being innovative and keep adapting business models to maintain and increase business despite challenges of COVID.  In addition to extending trading hours or applying for outdoor dining approvals or other outdoor permits, you may consider offering online and contact-less purchasing, or offering incentives for people to visit out of peak times with loyalty programs or value add promotions.

Council supporting the local business community

Backing businesses in tough times

From the moment our region was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, Council moved quickly to put a number of measures and resources in place to support businesses and the community, and to help keep our local economy going in 2020 and beyond.  

Some of the immediate measures put in place included an economic stimulus package for local businesses and community organisations, a dedicated priority customer service channel for businesses seeking information from Council, online resources such as the grant finder tool to help businesses find and apply for available financial funding, and inviting businesses to register for the VendorPanel Marketplace and a commitment by Council to procure goods and services from local businesses whenever possible.

In addition, Council led the formation of the Central Coast Economic Task Force to join other key players in the Central Coast business industry to harness knowledge, connections and provide collective support locally.   From this group a Bigger backyard program was launched to boost the local economy though a registered commitment from local business to buy and source equipment and supplies within the region, and an online platforms to help local shoppers and businesses connect with other local businesses.

Supporting our business community

Council continues to support our local business community though projects, initiatives and the implementation of strategies to boost the Central Coast economy and increase local jobs.

• COVID-19 Outdoor Dining Support Package - to help hospitality venues recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19, Council is offering an Outdoor Dining Expansion Package. The Package enables businesses to expand their outdoor dining areas by up to 50 percent without paying any additional fees for the extra space until 30 April 2022.

• Activating our Town Centres - vibrant town centres contribute to our region’s economy and are important places for our community to connect. Council is committed to the continual improvement and activation of our town centres to;
  • Support businesses and drive economic development through increased visitations
  • Create new experiences and vibrant hubs for locals and visitors
  • Recent targeted initiatives and programs include improvements to the streetscape to improve amenity and safety, community events and activities, pop up activations, interactive street art and connecting creatives and social enterprise with vacant shopfronts to create vibrant spaces.
• Council’s Economic Development team collaborate with all levels of Government, industry leaders, local organisations and associations to implement strategies and programs that drive the region’s economy and provide local employment opportunities, revitalise key urban locations, new social enterprise and to create a smart and innovative region to attract investment.
• Central Coast Economic Development Strategy - in 2020, an Economic Development Strategy for the Central Coast was adopted, positioning the region as the place to do business, creating jobs and prosperity for the region.  This Strategy is focussed on initiatives that will provide the greatest tangible benefits to our economy and our community by harnessing the region’s strengths and taking full advantage of the identified opportunities.  The plan has identified how our region can grow and develop though targeted investment, improved partnerships and promotion of our region as a desirable place to do business and visit as one destination.  Creating local jobs and opportunities for our community is a key priority of Council.  This plan aims to deliver this by keeping businesses active, investing in our local talent, improved infrastructure and digital capability, community outreach and driving collaboration and innovation. Read the Central Coast Economic Development Strategy.
• Register to do business with Council - Council will endeavour to use local suppliers where possible and fast-track approval for registered local businesses to be on list of approved suppliers of Central Coast Council. To make it easier for local businesses to supply Council with products and services, local business operators are invited to register for the VendorPanel Marketplace, which Council and other government agencies use to procure some goods and services.  For more information on doing business with Council visit our webpage with tender information.
• Shop Local Campaign - the #LoveCentralCoast shop local campaign aims to boost business for local retail and tourism businesses located within the Central Coast Region.  Sign up for a free account on Love Central Coast and be listed in a business directory for local and regional travellers to shop local and explore the Central Coast region.
• Central Coast Economic Task Force - Council partnered with Business NSW, Central Coast Industry Connect, Central Coast Food Alliance and Regional Development Australia (Central Coast) to form the Central Coast Economic Task Force, to harness collective knowledge, support and connections to help our business community faster following the impact of COVID. To keep up to date with task force news, resources and support – follow @CentralCoastEconomy on Facebook
• Bigger Backyard Central Coast is a local business support campaign which provides an online platform to showcase the myriad of businesses both small and large on the Coast and encourage businesses to source materials, resource and products locally.  By pledging to seek local business suppliers, businesses can play an active role in stabilising our local economy, stimulate jobs and build a stronger Central Coast.  Bigger Backyard is a joint initiative of Business NSW (Central Coast), Central Coast Council and local Chambers of Commerce groups – Gosford/Erina, Wyong, The Peninsula and The Entrance.