The Uptown District Acceleration Program is a two-stage program designed to fast-track the formation of local business communities and facilitate the growth of their districts into vibrant going-out hubs.
The first stage of the program, known as The Uptown Accelerator is an innovative, first-of-its-kind program for businesses which aims to unlock the potential of going-out districts across urban centres by:
- empowering District Teams to collaboratively develop their district identity; an
- equipping District Teams with the skills and networks to attract partners and consumers to their District.
The program is delivered through the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner.
The Shoalhaven was lucky enough to have 4 of the 25 successful District Teams participating in this round of the program. The Shoalhaven District teams are from Nowra Ignite, Berry Collective, Huskisson Entertainment District & Jacobs and the Inlet (Sussex Inlet).
Hear from our Shoalhaven Districts what it means to be involved:
“Being accepted into the 2024 Uptown Accelerator Program is a game-changer for Nowra. This program enables us accelerate Nowra’s growth, foster collaboration, and shine a spotlight on the incredible talent and creativity within our community. It’s more than just an accelerator – it’s a catalyst for positive change, empowering us to build a brighter, more prosperous future for Nowra and we can’t wait to watch Nowra Ignite.” – Nowra Ignite
“The team from Berry has been having a brilliant time as part of the Uptown Accelerator program- nothing like getting some very creative and passionate hospitality business owners together to collaborate on a shared vision to reach out to new audiences during these tough economic times.” – Berry Collective
“The Sussex team known as Jacobs and the Inlet Precinct is currently focused on developing the vision for the program and taking advantage of the training opportunities. Chamber President Sandra Gray said- it’s great to see so many businesses involved and taking advantage of the capacity building opportunities available through Uptown Accelerator program. We look forward to developing our strategies as part of our Uptown business plan.” – Jacobs and the Inlet
“The Huskisson hospitality businesses a very excited to use this opportunity to build on our visitor experience, support many local musicians and give people a real sense of our community. The support of the Huskisson Entertainment District is essential in giving small businesses the opportunity to build their patron experience and also elevate the entire hospitality offering from the Huskisson business community.” – Huskisson Entertainment District
