{"id":4995,"date":"2020-01-31T18:10:24","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T18:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=4995"},"modified":"2020-01-31T18:10:24","modified_gmt":"2020-01-31T18:10:24","slug":"1-million-in-funding-open-to-activate-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2020\/01\/31\/1-million-in-funding-open-to-activate-city\/","title":{"rendered":"$1 million in funding open to activate city"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than $1 million in funding will be made available to attract people to the City\u2019s business precincts this year under City of Newcastle\u2019s Special Business Rate Expenditure policy.
\nBusinesses, not-for-profits and community groups in Hamilton, New Lambton and Wallsend are invited to apply for funding for events and activations under the first round, which is open until Sunday 8 March.
\nFunds will range from $4,000 to $15,000 for successful applicants in these precincts and be followed by two additional rounds later in the year, with the second focused on the inner city and the third open to Wallsend, New Lambton, Hamilton and city centre.
\n\u201cThe City of Newcastle welcomes all creative and innovative ideas to activate local business precincts,\u201d Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
\n\u201cWe know that competition among applicants results in the best possible outcomes for our businesses and commercial centres.\u00a0 Last year, the Special Business Rate program dispersed more than $820,000 for a bumper schedule of 15 events, activations and promotional initiatives.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve already seen a three-on-three street basketball competition bring hundreds of kids, open and veteran players to Wheeler Place, a City Sparkles activation for retailers held across the CBD in the lead up to Christmas, and Hamilton created some fantastic street art.
\n\u201cThis year, I\u2019m delighted that more than $1 million will be available.\u201d
\n\"3x3-Street-Hustle-Wheeler-Place-inside.jpg\"3×3 Street Hustle in Wheeler Place<\/sup><\/strong>
\nThe City Sparkles event drew hundreds of evening shoppers into the CBD to enjoy the wares and offerings of a range of creative businesses in December.
\n\u201cIt was wonderful to have over 25 businesses play together as part of the newly formed Makers and Traders group,\u201d Makers and Traders spokesperson Anne Kempton said.
\n\u201cThe funding helped us to market the event and provide musical entertainment.
\n\u201cThe vast majority of these businesses do not open in the evenings so it was a major change and a huge success.\u201d
\nInformation sessions on the latest funding round will be held in each of the local business precincts at Duke of Wellington Hotel, New Lambton, on Tuesday 11 February at 12 noon; at the Olive Branch Caf\u00e9 in Hamilton on Wednesday 12 February at 7.30am; and Wallsend Library on Thursday 13 February at 6pm.
\nAll sessions will be open to representatives from all the precincts. Register your interest online at the City\u2019s website:<\/p>\n