All Canowindra residents aged over 18 can apply for up to $100 in vouchers:

Two $25 vouchers are available for dining in at restaurants, cafés, bars, wineries, pubs or clubs. Two $25 vouchers are available for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues.

You can apply online at: https://bit.ly/3sFDUVR or call 13 77 88 or visit your local Service NSW Centre.

Businesses must be registered with the program to accept the vouchers, if you're a local business that would like to register visit: https://bit.ly/3ufaTjR

SUBSIDY FOR AG SECTOR

Following reports of NSW growers losing revenue as a direct result of seasonal labour shortage of thousands of seasonal workers, attributed to COVID travel restrictions, I asked Ag Minister Adam Marshall the following question earlier this year in NSW Parliament:

"...Small and medium growers have indicated that the initial outlay to access worker schemes is too high when employers are required to pay $3,000 for each worker to quarantine. Will there be a subsidy for quarantine costs for small and medium farming enterprises that are reliant on foreign workers through the Pacific Labour Scheme or Seasonal Worker Programme?"

Well, I'm pleased to say that earlier last week the Minister responded to my question, announcing a $1,500 (50%) subsidy for hotel quarantine of inbound foreign seasonal ag workers. This is a positive step and will help elements of our struggling ag sector in lowering overheads and getting crops to market.

COMMUNITY BUILDING PARTNERSHIP GRANTS OPEN

The Community Building Partnership (CBP) Grant is an annual NSW Government grants program, which delivers funding to successful applicants for projects that deliver positive social, environmental, and recreational outcomes while promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations are eligible to apply for grants of between $5000 and $150,000, though the average grant awarded is around $20,000.

Applications open on Monday, April 19, 2021.

I strongly encourage local organisations to apply for the CBP grant, which is highly successful for applicants in getting funding to benefit their local community organisations.

To find out more and to apply, visit: https://communitybuildingpartnership.smartygrants.com.au/