COUNCIL will join with the Tamworth Business Chamber to encourage people to shop local ahead of this Christmas, but ongoing support might not be forthcoming.
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Tamworth Regional Council voted in favour of putting $15,000 towards a chamber initiative offering incentives to opt for local retail over shopping abroad online.
However councillors wanted to make it clear such a scheme might not garner council support in the future.
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At this stage, the promotion will put shoppers into the draw to win a car if they spend $30 in participating stores, anywhere in the Tamworth council area, as well as weekly prizes in the three-month campaign.
The council sponsorship will go towards the purchase of a car to giveaway.
Mayor Col Murray said the support was “in line” with what council was trying to do with its drought appeal, providing support in a tough time.
“For all business, I guess, it is a good signal working actively with the business chamber,” he said.
“It’s good for growth and development of Tamworth city.”
However, most councillors raised concerns it would set a precedent for support.
“It was clearly articulated in discussion this was a one-off and council was unlikely to entertain a similar approach from the business chamber,” he said.
According to a council report, retail is the second largest employer in the council area and contributes close to $175 million to the local economy.
The chamber said in its report to council it believed the local retail promotion would “be one of the most publicised and talked about activities in the 2018 calendar”.
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