From the CEO's Desk

Fri 20 May 2022

RCCIWA Members Forum – June 16th & June 17th - Perth
Registration is now open for our first RCCIWA Members Forum for 2022. We are very excited about our first forum of the year and the interest and bookings from our members has already been strong. To our members, you can find out more about why your organisation should be represented here and also all of the info and logistical details here.

We have fantastic news. The Premier, the Hon Mark McGowan MLA has confirmed that he will be speaking at our RCCIWA Members Forum on June 16th. We are so pleased he is making himself available for us – this is such a great opportunity for us and all our members. If you have not yet booked your tickets, please do so as soon as possible. We already have very strong numbers, with lots of first-time attendees, which will be terrific.

Book your tickets today   RCCIWA Members Forum June 2022 Registration

For now, whether you are attending or not we are asking for you questions for our speakers for Day 1 at Hale house. We need to provide questions to their offices two weeks prior, so can you please send anything you want raised by COB next Friday May 27th. We will be having a Q&A session with each speaker on the day, however by sending through your questions, it enables each speaker to respond in more detail.

Below are the details of our confirmed and requested speakers for Day One. Please let us know who you question/s is/are for:

Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC           Confirmed and our host

Hon Mark McGowan MLA                  Confirmed

Hon Don Punch MLA                          Confirmed

Hon Roger Cook MLA                            Unavailable, however we are trying to secure the CEO of Tourism                                                               WA to come along and give us a briefing.

Hon John Carey MLA                             Invited – waiting on response

Hon Sue Ellery MLC                            Invited – waiting on response

Hon Rita Saffioti MLA                         Invited – waiting on response

Hon Mia Davies MLA                          Confirmed

Ms Libby Mettam MLA                       Confirmed

If you have not attended our Forum previously, I would strongly encourage you to come along. It is two days of first-class networking,  relevant and important information, high level advocacy and lots of opportunities to share and learn. We all love the RCCIWA Forum and take a great deal from them, whist strengthening our supportive network of regional business organisations. We hope you can join us.

Small Business Development Corporation – COVID Small Business Grants
The SBDC have a number of grants available for Small Business to provide support for those impacted by Covid.

Small Business Hardship Grants
As part of the WA Government’s Level 2 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package, tiered grants are being offered to eligible businesses that can demonstrate a specific decrease in business turnover for any two week period between 1 January and 30 April 2022, compared to an equivalent period in 2021. Payments will be based on the number of full time equivalent (FTE) employees of the business.  Applications are now open until 30 June 2022.

Tenant Rent Relief Scheme
As part of the WA Government’s Level 1 COVID-19 Business Assistance Package, grants of $3,000 are being offered to eligible small businesses tenant that can demonstrate a 30 per cent decrease in business turnover for any four-week period between 1 January and 30 April 2022, compared to an equivalent period in 2021. Applications are now open until 30 June 2022.

Small Business Assistance Grant - December 2021
This grant is designed to assist small businesses that were directly financially impacted by the Chief Health Officer’s COVID Restrictions (Directions) from 23 December 2021 to 4 January 2022. Eligible businesses will receive payments for each impacted day, with applications open to both employing and non-employing businesses until 31 May 2022.

Read here for more detail and information about these grants and support measures.

RCCIWA State Budget Summary
The WA State Budget was handed down by The Premier, the Hon Mark McGowan MLA last Thursday. A strong and financially responsible budget with a focus on reducing household expenses, diversifying the economy, jobs and large infrastructure investment.

CCIWA very generously offered for one of their senior policy advisors, Anthea Wesley to attend the budget lock-in today representing RCCIWA, from 9am to prepare a regional analysis for RCCIWA and all of our members. Many of you would have met Anthea as she usually attends our monthly online RCCIWA Meetings. A big thank you to Anthea and CCIWA for offering their expertise and time. Anthea has put together a great summary, outlining the key highlights for Regional WA business communities.

RCCIWA Administrative Items

  • Emmi Taylor is constantly updating our membership contact list. If you have any changes to your contacts or would like to add any people, please email Emmi at admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au
  • Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and share our page with your members.
  • Please also let us know about any activities, initiatives or events you would like us to include in our fortnightly newsletter. We love showcasing a great idea, program or event that one of our members is delivering. If you have something you would like us to share – please send through the details to Emmi.
  • Our member portal is being well accessed by our members, but we can always add more content – so please send through any operational documents you are happy to share with your fellow members to Emmi at admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au