RCCIWA Members Forum – June 16^th & June 17^th - Perth
Planning is well underway for our first RCCIWA Members Forum for 2022. Registration links and all detailed information will be sent to you by the end of April, however for now I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the date and also ask for your suggestions on topics and speakers. We are very excited about our first forum and the interest from our members has already been strong – we know quite a few have already booked their flights and accommodation!

Day 1     Thursday June 16^th Hale House                              8am to 2pm approximately

Day 2     Friday June 17^th The Mercure Hotel Perth           8.30am to 3.00pm approximately

BAH       Thursday June 16^th The Mercure Hotel Perth      5.30pm to 7.30pm

Generously co-hosted by Telstra Regional WA and Accor Hotels WA – thank you!!

For now, to assist us in planning we are seeking from you:

• Key issues of concern for your members and the Minister responsible. As much detail as you can in this please, as this will assist us in crafting our questions that we send to each confirmed Minister prior to the event. We are required to send these at least two weeks prior.
• Speakers you would like to hear from
• Topics, you would like us to cover on either day
• Any key stakeholders or members that are based in Perth that you would like us to invite to the awesome BAH on the Thursday night. Please do not invite them directly, but rather send Emmi the details and she will add them to our invitee list. We aim to send out the BAH invitations by the end of April, so please send through your suggested invitees (up to 5) asap. We need their name, title, company/organisation and their correct email address. Please email Emmi at admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au
• Any other suggestions you may have for the Forum

The Mercure Hotel Perth have offered us a fantastic conference rate for all delegates which is calculated at 19% off the best available rate of the day. The best way to book this is directly by emailing shelley.wang@accor.com or calling (08) 9326 7097. By quoting the block code RCCIWA_001, you will be able to access the conference rate.

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.

I look forward to your suggestions and to seeing you in June!

RCCIWA Engagement and Representation
As it was for all of our members, the first three months of 2022 was an extremely busy period for members and stakeholder engagement and representation. RCCIWA sits on many groups and committees on behalf of our members, which means we can ensure that the voice of regional business is always being heard in a meaningful way. Some of the highlights for the first three months of this year for engagement and representation include:

• Holding RCCIWA five year strategic Planning Day with our executive Committee
• Visited Newman and spent some time assisting our member the Newman CCI with their constitution and other Chamber matters – a great visit and took part in their committee meeting
• Visited Margaret River to be a speaker at the MRCCI’s International Women’s Day event. A great opportunity to meet with many of their members and also check out their brilliant Business Hub the next day.
• Met with executive members of the Dunsborough-Yallingup CCI and the Busselton CCI in Busselton to take part in a discussion on possible collaboration. Thank you to the DYCCI for inviting me to be a part of this meeting.
• Travelled to Kalgoorlie as a guest of the Hon Don Punch MLA, meeting with many Kalgoorlie-Boulder businesses and attending a small business issues luncheon hosted by our member the KBCCI. A very valuable day.
• Working closely with The President of the Manjimup CCI, Bevan Eatts as our representative on the Native Forestry Transition Group. Bevan is doing an incredible job representing the concerns of all impacted businesses. RCCIWA conducted a survey on the impacts which can be read here.
• Participated in the Commercial Tenancy Roundtable  which was hosted by the Hon Roger Cook MLA and the Hon Don Punch MLA.
• Met with CMEWA, Shelter WA, Town Teams, ATO, DTWD,  and CCIWA Membership– regional stakeholder engagement

• Foodservice & Hospitality Working Group – continued to contribute to this State Government formed Working Group (one of about 22) which is a part of the Government recovery program. A particularly important way to ensure the issues and challenges of our members are being voiced and heard. This is a very responsive working group that we contribute to monthly.
• Participated as a member of the WA Advocacy for Consumers of Energy Forum (WA ACE Forum) which is a broad based representation of household and small business consumer views in a central forum, allowing issues to be raised and for consumers to share in the development of products and solutions for the energy sector.  
• Attended CCIWA’s General Council meeting as a member
• Continued to regularly meet with Stephen, Dan and Fiona from JTSI to discuss local procurement, their local procurement workshops and the WA Industry Link Regional Communication Forums. We have a very engaged and strong relationship with JTSI.
• Met with Peter from DTWD to discuss the progress of Working Together. The program has been extended for a further two years which is fantastic.
• Attended the monthly Local Content Advisors Network online meeting to continue our engagement and discuss ways our members can work in collaboration with their local LCA.
• Met individually with all  partners of the Grow Local Program to discuss continuing the program for Years 4 and 5.

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 50 per cent 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. Click here for more detail and information about these grants and support measures.

Tourism WA – Applications still open for Tourism Support Programs
Applications are open for all three programs of the Tourism Industry Support Package. The three programs are the $3 million WA Travel Agents Support Fund, the $15 million WA Tourism Deposit Refund Program and the $20 million WA Tourism Support Program. They were announced as part of the State Government’s $77 million Safe Transition Industry Support Package, helping eligible WA tourism businesses offset some of the financial impact incurred by the delayed border reopening. Closing date is April 29^th 2022.  Find out more by clicking here.

Innovation Booster Grant Now Open
The Innovation Booster Grant is designed to provide your startup or small business with the financial boost it needs to access professional skills, services or knowledge, enabling you to advance your innovative idea, project or commercial activity in Western Australia. The WA Government recognises that startups and small businesses have great ideas, but that taking these ideas and turning them into new and sustainable business opportunities with real commercial outcomes can be difficult. The program is designed to assist innovators to overcome some of the barriers on the path to commercialisation. It aims to catalyse new relationships between innovators, research providers and specialist commercialisation support services, or to move tentative collaborations into a productive relationship. Fiind out more here.