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The innovative campaign, a first for the Central Coast, is hoping to reach 500 pledges by the end of May from businesses prepared to purchase locally in an effort to stimulate the economy and prepare for recovery.

“We call out to all businesses to make a pledge via the Bigger Backyard Central Coast mobile app. Commit to spend on a business service available within the Central Coast, or ‘swap out’ an existing purchase outside the region to a local one,“ said Gosford Erina Business Chamber President, Rod Dever.

The Bigger Backyard Central Coast app has been a collaborative design of the Gosford Erina Business Chamber, Wyong Regional Business Chamber, The Entrance Chamber and Peninsular Chamber; supported by Central Coast Council and Business NSW.

“The business sector represents a significant purchasing power in their own right. Other regional economies have seen a threefold return when businesses spend locally so this would be a welcome boost to business sustainability across the Central Coast if we did the same,” said Business NSW Regional Director, Paula Martin.

Initially developed to help reinvigorate the declining Town Centres of Woy Woy, The Entrance, Gosford Erina and Wyong, the app was quickly expanded to provide a Covid-19 response and ensure all businesses had another avenue to be visible.

“With Chamber face to face business matching events restricted for the foreseeable future, the Bigger Backyard app provides Wyong and Northern Growth Corridor businesses with direct access to each other, online and 24x7,” said Wyong Regional Chamber President, Matthew Lusted.

The Entrance Chamber President, Bob Diaz also believes that the Bigger Backyard app will help local business coping with the additional impact of the summer bushfires. “By telling other businesses what they are doing differently through Covid-19, the app could potentially open new markets and opportunities,” said Mr Diaz.

The campaign spearheads a longer-term Chamber led economic initiative called “In Good Company” designed to boost the local business economy, showcase business excellence and create a much needed business identity for the Central Coast.

“For a long time we have been advocating for a business identity that is unique to the Central Coast. We hope to highlight innovation across the Peninsular, which could result in business growth within the region and indeed beyond. It’s key to the reinvigoration of our towns and the pandemic recovery,” said President of the Peninsular Chamber, Mathew Wales.