Chamber of Commerce merge enables more opportunities for Inglewood businesses

Businesses in Inglewood will have more opportunities for networking and professional development thanks to a small group of businesses advocating for the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce to extend their services to the Inglewood area.

Goondiwindi Regional Council facilitated several meetings between interested Inglewood businesses and the Goondiwindi Chamber at the request of a number of local businesses in Inglewood. Following a community meeting in Inglewood on Tuesday last week, the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce committee has now unanimously passed a motion to invite Inglewood businesses to become members of the Goondiwindi Chamber.

As part of the agreement, any funds left over from the past Inglewood Chamber will now be utilised to offer all Inglewood businesses free 12-month membership to the Goondiwindi Chamber from 1 March 2021.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said the initiative was an excellent opportunity for Inglewood businesses. He is encouraging all those interested to take up the offer of a year’s free membership and participate in upcoming Chamber activities. They can also sign up to the Chamber’s mailing list to receive updates and information pertinent to local businesses.

“I am delighted that the Goondiwindi Chamber will be expanding to the Inglewood area and extending their services to Inglewood businesses from now on,” the Mayor said. “The next twelve months in particular will be an opportunity for those businesses to engage with the Goondiwindi Chamber, to try out their many workshops and networking events and begin to build a connection with other businesses to see how it may benefit them in the long-term.”

The Inglewood Chamber of Commerce last met in 2016. Since then, several Inglewood businesses approached Council with concerns about missing out on opportunities and information sharing. However, those businesses also indicated that they did not have the capacity to run an Inglewood Chamber themselves, and were not aware of any other local business leaders interested in the role. Council’s position was always to support Inglewood businesses in whatever course of action they chose, Cr Springborg said.

“Council has encouraged Inglewood businesses to take the lead in how they wanted to progress, whether it was to reinvigorate the old Inglewood Chamber, merge with the Goondiwindi Chamber, or look at other options,” he said. “The Inglewood Chamber of Commerce certainly was an incredibly successful and functional organisation in its time and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been involved over the years.”

President of the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce David Turner said: “With significant opportunities on the horizon such as Inland Rail, the Acciona wind farm and expanding horticulture ventures, this is a chance for Inglewood and Goondiwindi businesses to work together more closely and to nurture greater economic success across the region as a whole.”

The Goondiwindi Chamber is planning to host one ‘Business Breakfast’ and one ‘Meet My Business’ event in Inglewood over the next year, with an information session about the Acciona wind farm already lined up for later this month. Interested businesses should get in touch with the Goondiwindi Chamber directly on admin@goondiwindichamber.com.au or (07) 4671 7486.