Why supporting local business is now more important than ever before

To the people of the Central Coast,

We understand that many of you may be feeling scared, isolated and overwhelmed with all of the information currently circulating in regard to Covid-19 (Coronavirus).

We share this sentiment and respect the need for social distancing, but want to also encourage you to continue to show your support for the businesses in our community that will undoubtedly be impacted by these global events.

2020 has been a disruptive year for regional economies, beginning with the catastrophic bushfires and then recent floods that ruined many businesses, homes and lives across many parts of rural and regional Australia.

The current threat of Coronavirus and the measures being taken to prevent its spread throughout communities everywhere continues to further impact many local and regional businesses.

Many businesses within our community are doing it tough. Some will not survive the challenges that they have encountered this year. This is why it is more important now than ever before, for us to support those businesses which form the backbone of our community.

What we are asking is simple. Continue to eat at your local café. If you don’t wish to eat out, opt for a takeaway option instead. Continue to buy product from local vendors. Wherever possible, continue to buy local and regional to support the livelihoods of the people running these businesses and their families.

This in turn will support you and the continuing growth and prosperity of the community in which you live, work and perhaps run your own business.

Now is not the time for panic in the aisles of empty shopping centres.

Now is the time to come together to show what it really means to be a regional community and support one another to overcome adversity when times are tough.

Now is the time to be especially aware of our responsibility to protect the vulnerable sectors of our community – the aged, people living with sickness or people living with disability – and now is the time we need to take extra measures to ensure these vulnerable people are not ignored or disadvantaged by current circumstances.

Now is the time for calm, control and kindness. It is the time to make conscious decisions about supporting one another so that as a community we can emerge from these crises stronger than before.

Our actions and decisions today will determine the success of the whole of our regional community in the years ahead. We only ask that you choose wisely.

Phil Walker
Chair

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