Council focus on small business

Parramatta Lord Mayor, John Chedid,  has established two initiatives within the city’s small business sector to seek the knowledge and experience of small business operators on planning issues for the city, and to acknowledge their contribution though a small business award.

“I have talked to investors about the future of our planning for the city … I would like to sit down and discuss what local business and innovators need to prosper and grow in our city,” he said

“I want to work directly with the small, innovative firms which will grow and employ people in the city, in the future.

“I want to hear from local business about why they came to Parramatta and what will keep them here … what are their ideas for the city and how can we make them happen.

“I want to focus on young innovators, people with inspiring stories, and local businesses ready to take up the opportunities of new technology.”

He said to achieve this, he would arrange a series of forums with local businesses.

“Also, I want to recognise and reward businesses with an annual Lord Mayor’s [Small] Business Excellence Awards, to be held in July,” he said

Clr Chedid introduced these initiatives following the disbandment of the Parramatta Partnership Forum (PPF), an advisory body to council, consisting of 16 “big end” members, mainly from the Sydney CBD.

He said the advice from the PPF over a three-year period had been “very positive and necessary” and while he would engage with its members in the future “ it is now time to involve and work with our local businesses.”

Clr Chedid said council would develop a local business partnership forum to work with businesses in the city to discuss ideas and how the partnership could work  together to make them happen.