The Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce it has secured $50,000 of funding for two fantastic projects that will kick start recovery in the Camden Haven.

The Chamber secured the funding through the NSW Government in association with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council as a part of the Disaster Recovery Funding allocation.

The first project, Our Way to Recover will showcase Camden Haven farmers through a series of video interviews, digital and print educational materials and information sessions. This campaign will connect locals and businesses with our farming community to encourage buying local.

The second project, the Camden Haven River Festival will showcase local music, culture, history and art along the North Haven foreshore. The focus of the event will be around supporting the local community and businesses, using the theme of a flowing river to encourage attendees to follow the river to experience the full range of entertainment and activities strategically placed along the foreshore. There will be a combination of venue-hosted entertainment and activities. The event is expected to take place in the October school holidays.

Chamber is also very excited to announce investment into a Camden Haven Gift Card through the Why Leave Town program. The card aims to keep money in the Camden Haven by encouraging people to shop locally. The card enables locals to give a relative, friend or employee a gift where they can choose exactly what they want from any of the participating stores in the Camden Haven. We thank Laurieton Residential Resort for coming on board as a major sponsor of the program.

President, Stuart Bate, says many local businesses have shared their support for the program, which will see the use of the gift card at businesses from Lake Cathie to Kendall and all in between.

“The initiative is a part of a wider push by the Chamber to keep jobs in the area while encouraging growth in the local economy. The Chamber is here to support businesses and the community through recovery. These three initiatives will keep much needed dollars in the Camden Haven in our first step to recovery.”

While the Chamber’s staff are now on the ground working with the business community to ensure they reap the benefits of these initiatives, the committee continues to push for a masterplan for the upgrade and beautification of Laurieton CBD. An email has been sent to all commercial property owners along the main street of Laurieton, inviting them to come together and take a first step towards forming an independent group to lead the revitalisation of the main street.

For more information on Our Way to Recover, please contact Marisha via executive.officer@camdenhavenchamber.org.

For more information on the Camden Haven River Festival or the Camden Haven Gift Card, please contact Holly via events@camdenhavenchamber.org.

If you are commercial property owner and would like to know more, please contact Stuart via president@camdenhavenchamber.org.