Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund brings Business Forum to Mackay

Rio Tinto Coal Australia will enable local residents who want to grow and capitalise on the booming local economy, to learn new skills.

The Mackay Chamber of Commerce, funded by the Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund, will this month host a "Business in Action" forum, to give local entrepreneurs key business skills.

The local delegates will be inspired by international business expert Justin Herald, who grew his clothing company Attitude Inc from $50 into a multi-million dollar enterprise.

Mackay Chamber of Commerce Secretary Jenelle Schembri said the Forum will also enable networking opportunities, exhibitions and workshops.

"We want to make sure that businesses in the Mackay region have the skills to take advantage of the booming local economy," Ms Schembri said.

"So in 2007 we surveyed our members to find out their needs for training and development.

"We then tailored our conference programme to address these needs in a format which is easily accessible to time poor businesses that may not have access to training and development in house.

"We applied to the Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund for assistance and were able to secure funding to make the Forum a reality."

The Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund is now accepting funding applications from similar programmes.

More than $200,000 is available for local community groups, schools and business organisations.

Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund Executive Officer Anna Benson said last year the Fund provided $208,500 to 14 programmes aimed at generating positive long term benefits for the communities of Mackay, Nebo, Mirani and Nebo.

Applications for the next round of funding will close on the 12 June 2008. Potential applicants should contact Anna Benson on 4951 6402 to receive a guidelines booklet and application form and discuss their application.

The 'Business in Action' forum will begin at 8.30am on Wednesday 14 May at Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas, Mt Pleasant. Please contact Jenelle Schembri on 1300 667 459 for more information.

-ENDS-

Media Enquiries:
Nathan Scholz - (07) 3361 4354 / 0417 613 174

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