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Making sure local business practices are Lean, Smart and digitally adept is the aim of a series of unique events and opportunities soon to be delivered in Whanganui.
Amplify grants are one-off allocations of up to $4000. The grants are designed to help boost businesses and make their work resilient. All businesses in the Whanganui rohe are eligible to enter and there will be five grants awarded after applications close on September 22.
This is the fourth and final round of Amplify grants delivered by Whanganui & Partners, Whanganui’s Economic Development Agency.
In Amplify’s third round, which closed in June, nine businesses were awarded grants of up to $4000.
This third round of Amplify included five one-off music industry-specific grants. These were awarded to Lost Art Event Management, Vinyl Room, Porridge Watson, Whanganui Opera School, and Whanganui Musicians Club.
In addition to the music-industry winners, Amplify grants were also awarded to ThinkBrig, AP Studios, The Community Led Trust, and Woven Rivers Trust.
Business Growth Advisor Simon Putan said the programme had been hugely popular with local businesses and 23 businesses had been supported through the grants so far.
“These grants have assisted businesses in manufacturing, retail, creative industries, agriculture, visitor industries and more,” Putan said. “They’ve helped these businesses with infrastructure projects, upskilling, improving their marketing ability and securing the equipment they need to grow.”
Although Amplify would no longer be delivered through one-off grants, Acting Chief Executive Jonathan Sykes said there would be other opportunities with Amplify in the future.
“We started this initiative amplifying local business with a focus on funding opportunities. That has been greatly beneficial to the successful applicants but we know there are many ways to support businesses and help them grow.”
Sykes said the Economic Development Agency’s recent Whanganui Business Survey had provided insight into which programmes businesses found useful and the help they sought to grow.
“The survey showed us that there is good awareness of Amplify within our business community, and the survey’s results along with the level of response to the grants shows us they have been welcomed and well utilised.”
Sykes said in addition to recognising the impact the grants had made, the survey indicated that building on what Amplify could offer would further benefit businesses.
“We know one-off funding has a place and clear benefits, but we also want to use Amplify to help as many businesses as possible realise their potential in multiple ways,” he said.
“This might include opportunities to Amplify your staff’s skills, your technological capability, or your connections within the business community. It may be the chance to Amplify educational prospects through scholarships.”
Sykes said over the four quarters, the Amplify grants had operated with an always-open format. Anyone who had applied since Amplify opened late last year remained eligible over the 12-month period.
“So this final round of grants has a big pool of existing applicants to be considered, along with any new applications submitted before September 22.”
Simon Putan said that businesses which had sought funding through Amplify grants could be good candidates for the Regional Business Partners (RBP) programme, which Whanganui & Partners delivers in Whanganui and the wider region.
“If you need subsidised support to improve your business’ capability, or if you have plans for growth and expansion, our goal is to get you on the right track through the RBP,” Putan said.
Businesses should first register online with the network, and they would then be able to book a meeting with Putan, the Business Growth Advisor. “Then we’d set key goals and an action plan.”
Putan said the specific support and guidance to help businesses could include connecting them with key organisations, support through Business Mentors NZ, trade and export support through NZ Trade and Enterprise, research and development support through Callaghan Innovation, or co-funding for specific advice and training.
Apply for an Amplify grant before September 22, 2023. Read more about the Regional Business Partners network.
