City of Busselton announces funding for 35 events and business chambers

The City of Busselton has announced significant funding for 35 events across the region and support for two business chambers. The council voted at last month’s meeting to approve financial support through its events sponsorship program, which is funded by more than $1 million raised through a differential rate on industrial and commercial rated properties in the city. Supported projects include Busselton Hospice Care’s Go Blue for June events this month, the Pair’d Gourmet Festival, Busselton Caravan and Camping Show and the national conferences for the Australian Women Pilots’ Association and the A’Van Club of Australia. Events that received funding were considered by the city’s business development, events and marketing program reference group to demonstrate strong community or economic outcomes. Organisers also had to provide data to demonstrate the return on investment from the funding. The council also approved $100,000 a year for two years to be shared between the Busselton Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dunsborough Yallingup Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The funding has been approved on the expectation that the council’s financial support for the two not-for-profit organisations will reduce over time as they become more self-sustaining.