Southport
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I begin this month’s Presidents Update with a big welcome to our new Gold Members, Small Business Expo, Rob Molhoek Member for Southport and Feddersen Consulting Group. I’m delighted that we have now exceeded the opportunity for Gold Membership, with all 12 spaces now occupied by local businesses.

Since elected I have been championing for a significant event to be held in our CBD to showcase its potential. That is why I am so delighted to partner with Placemakers* Gold Coast in bringing the inaugural event, BIG CITY LIGHTS* festival to our patch.

Southport Chamber of Commerce is proud to support Vinnies CEO Sleepout and Vice President - Membership Lorraine Lovatt who will be sleeping out at her 7th Sleepout this year. There is only just over 2 weeks to go until this year’s CEO Sleepout on Thursday 23 June when Lorraine will again be sleeping on the concrete on a piece of cardboard at CBUS Super Stadium as part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout® 2022.

Latest results indicated that the Gold Coast businesses are confident that the future of the state and national economies will remarkedly improve. However, it is important to note that the turnaround is off a low base and actual business performance is reported to remain low.

As a member of the Southport Chamber of Commerce you have the opportunity to donate a raffle prize for the event, we are currently putting together our list of Prizes and donors and ask for kind donation.

A new arts festival is coming to Southport CBD in July!

BIG CITY LIGHTS* is an ambitious new arts festival that celebrates light, design, installation and live performance.

We are seeking your feedback, on proposed construction of a rail trail following the Southport Branch of the old South Coast Rail corridor. The rail corridor extends between Parkwood and Southport and includes the heritage listed Ernest Junction tunnel.

We welcome and thank Small Business Expos our newest Southport Chamber of Commerce GOLD Member.

Small Business Expos hosts 5 small business expo events across South East Queensland this year and 8 in 2019. Since 2014 we have successfully rolled out 6 small business expos. Each expo focusing on 8 key goals ; collaboration, generate, skills transfer, charity, promotion, inform, celebration, platform.

Mayor Tom Tate will lead a business trade mission to the United Kingdom – with a focus around the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Program (BATP

The delegation will comprise up to 40 businesses/stakeholders, and will run over two weeks from 26 July – 8 August 2022.

I’m pleased to start this month’s President update with the news that the Southport Chamber of Commerce now has over 300 members – a fantastic milestone that shows the strength of business within the Gold Coast CBD.

Last week, the Queensland Parliament passed the Small Business Commissioner Bill 2021, which permanently establishes a Queensland Small Business Commissioner and a supporting office for the Commissioner. The permanent Commissioner will provide tailored support and advice to Queensland small businesses and provide timely and affordable access to justice through the permanent commissioner’s dispute resolution function, which relates to retail tenancy disputes and enable mediation for commercial le

In line with the Council endorsed Music Action Plan, the introduction of a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) in Southport will protect and encourage opportunities for Southport to be a hub for live music. A vibrant destination where locals can see world class artists.

The Gold Coast Business Hub has recently expanded for the 4th time in as many years. Now offering 2 locations Southport and Surfers Paradise. We are happy to offer the first 5 SCOC members who make a booking with us a 10% discount off their booking. Book directly with our Corporate Concierge, Lauren or Andrea, on 07 5528 5470 or office@gcbh.com.au

VMA Promotional Products is the brainchild of Katie Bond who saw a gap in the market for quality yet low cost promotional merchandise for businesses.

At First Asset Management, we pride ouselves on being proactive. Where other property managers act reactively to problems, we make it our priority to know exactly what's happening with your property and tenants. As specialist commercial asset managers, we do far more than simply collect rent -- in fact, we possess the knowledge and expertise to help you in ways the 'average' property manager can't.

Key Business Network is a professional business networking organisation, committed to helping small to medium businesses expand. In our professional network, members meet regularly in localised business networks to develop relationships, support each other and to share and record referral business.

Sonic HealthPlus is Australia’s leading provider of occupational healthcare and general medical services. Backed by Sonic Healthcare, Sonic HealthPlus is a truly national company with wholly owned clinics operating in metropolitan, regional and remote locations across the country.

Good morning,

The Southport Chamber of Commerce have put a call out to collect information on how local business have been directly impacted by the current weather events in SEQ.

It’s been a difficult start to the year for business owners, including our 280 Southport Chamber members, with modelling showing the constraints on Queensland businesses over January impacted the state’s economy an estimated $180 million per day in lost economic activity.

What wild weather we are having! I hope you and your family are staying safe (and dry) as South-east Queensland gets bombarded by all this rain. I thought I would touch base with you with some tips on staying safe, how to get help if you need it, and how to help out if you’re in a position to do so.

Do you have newly graduated employees in your team? Or team members who are due to finish their studies in the next 6 months? If so, you might like to consider Study Gold Coast’s Kickstart Graduate Program.

The year of the Tiger is off to a cracking pace. Just in the last week council has:

• carved out our 2032 strategy

• reviewed, with Queensland Treasury, our budget and the City’s financial health (we are looking mighty fine by the way), and

• determined a plan of attack on the HOTA masterplan.

Gold Coast businesses made the most of the frontline of state border re-opening, recording an increase in sales and revenue and general businesses conditions in the December quarter, despite low confidence in future conditions.

In a city first, the Southport Chamber of Commerce have extended it's Gold Coast Business initiative for 2022 to help our Local Gold Coast businesses on their road to recovery over the next 12 months.

The initiative will see the annual Business membership fees again waived for new and existing businesses who join the Southport Chamber before December 31st 2022

Accessing this free Business membership offer is quick and easy. New members can sign up via the Chamber’s Apply Now  follow the online

Now is the time for Queensland consumers and businesses to be depending on their own communities and local supply chains for goods, services, stock and resources.

Constraints on Queensland businesses are costing the state’s economy an estimated $180 million a day in lost economic activity, new CCIQ modelling shows.

Gold Coast fintech, Send Payments, has raised a total of $5 million through an oversubscribed placement, with some exceptional additions to the share register to help accelerate growth into 2022. As part of the raise the company is looking to expand their embedded finance product offerings, as well as hiring additional staff and laying the foundations for its imminent overseas expansion.

Constraints on Queensland businesses are costing the state’s economy an estimated $180 million a day in lost economic activity, new modelling from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) shows.

As COVID-19 becomes more prevalent in our community, people who have COVID-19 will visit businesses and workplaces. Guidance for managing COVID-19 in workplaces is available.

The Southport business community are throwing their weight behind the City of Gold Coast’s proposed Southport Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) with results from a recent Southport Chamber of Commerce member survey showing that 100% of survey respondents support the proposed SEP.

Another whirlwind year is coming to a close, with Christmas and the end of 2021 rapidly approaching. If we thought 2020 was an interesting year with the beginning of the pandemic, 2021 certainly kept up the momentum of absurdity, with new strains of COVID, more lockdowns and ever-changing restrictions.

Dear Member,

The City of Gold Coast is currently undertaking community consultation for the proposed Southport Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP).

Times have been tough for many Gold Coast business and some industries are recovering faster than others. Adapting to change is key to successfully managing your business.

On the 18 November 2021, the Southport Chamber of Commerce held its annual AGM Chaired by Ian Kennedy. The Board would like to thank all members who attended the AGM in person, and those who sent proxies and apologies.

An excellent night on Thursday 18/11/2021 for the annual AGM of the Southport Chamber of Commerce, followed by our Christmas Celebratory drinks. We had 50 members attend our beautiful sunset evening event at the Southport Yacht Club overlooking the gorgeous yachts moored in the marina.

The Southport Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) is one step closer, with consultation opening to obtain feedback on a range of planning instruments to bring the program to life.

The Australia Fair Terry White store was the very first store opened by Terry and Rhonda White and is considered their flagship. A million dollar makeover has recently been completed, and the owners Terry and Rhonda held a series of VIP parties to launch transformation of the new look premises.

Pulse Survey results out now

Christmas business confidence missing traditional festive cheer

From 17 December when Queensland is forecast to reach the 80 per cent double vaccinated milestone, hospitality and entertainment venues including festivals will only be permitted to allow entry to patrons and staff who are fully vaccinated. Read the plan here.

This affects non-essential leisure businesses including hospitality venues (hotels, pubs, clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants and cafes) and entertainment venues (nightclubs, live music venues, stadiums, theatres, cinemas and festivals)

“It is incredible to realise that we have been dealing with the consequences of the Covid -19 pandemic for over 18 months now. Uncertainty of rules, lockdowns, and movement restrictions etc have been the cause of the greatest economic impact on all sizes of businesses on the Gold Coast over that time. While I am usually an optimist, every time I think I see light at the end of the tunnel the tunnel seems to keep going on and on.

It was great to see October mark the opening of the Gold Coast Youth Foyer right here in Southport.

International students will be returning to study in Queensland from the beginning of next year. After an announcement from the State Government confirmed plans earlier this week.

You are hereby notified that the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Southport Chamber of Commerce Inc will be held on Thursday 18 November 2020 at 5:00pm.

Your Chamber continues to engage with all levels of government, fellow Chambers and CCIQ to ensure you are informed and every effort is made to advance the interests of small businesses around Southport. Business sentiment ranges from devastation in some sectors, to hesitancy in others due to the uncertainty of possible lockdowns, to embracing opportunities in what some see as the new normal.

As a City Heart Taskforce member, The Southport Chamber of Commerce was pleased to attend the City Heart Task Force Reimagine 2.0 Breakfast and Forum with the Honourable Ms Angie Bell MP and many other city leaders.

Queensland businesses on New South Wales border to benefit from multi-million-dollar funding injection

AS the oldest and longest standing chamber on the Gold Coast, the Southport Chamber of Commerce has been a voice for local businesses since founded on April 23, 1912, by inaugural president Edward Fass.

This past month has seen the Chamber working behind the scenes with CCIQ and Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce to try to find a solution to the devastating impact on Gold Coast businesses from the hard border closure.

Immerse yourself at Regent Lane this Spring at the City’s first CBD Sundown event on Friday, 24 September 6pm – 9pm. Entry is free.

The businesses represented by the Southport Chamber are grateful for the $600 million business and tourism support package announced by the Federal Treasurer which includes support for tourism businesses further to the existing State Government grants package.

Deteriorating business confidence on the Gold Coast is the lowest in the state, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland’s June quarter Pulse Survey shows.

We are in a business events season. An intimate group of our members were privileged to attend a special presentation and tour of Griffith University’s Institute of Glycomics on 27 May 2021 following by networking. Griffith University’s Institute for Glycomics is a flagship biomedical research institute based right here on the Gold Coast

The Council Pop-Up activation on the corner of Nerang and Scarborough streets has been well received by residents and business owners. For this first week of June, Council set up with Police to engage on issues. Our first priority was simply to reclaim that space. Second, to engage with CBD locals on what is important to them. People clearly appreciated the opportunity.

Our personal safety, and the safety of our community, is important to all of us. I have had contact from many locals recently concerned about escalating crime in our local area, and right across the Gold Coast for that matter. We need your help, as the business community of Southport, to convince the Palaszczuk Labor Government to listen to and act on our community’s concerns.

The next generation of superyachts of up to 130 metres will be one step closer to berthing at the Southport Yacht Club thanks to advanced simulation technology

Following on from recent advocacy from your Chamber the Council of the City of Gold Coast announced a significant proposal for the Courts Precinct in Southport which will be a key driver of the Southport CBD.

Please know the Mayor and I are working together to realise the transformation of the CBD. Mayor Tate last week pledged to fight for a Supreme Court – and Federal Court – for the city, given huge delays being reported in the justice system.

There has been a lot of conjecture recently about the Queensland bid for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. First, let me start by saying I am a supporter of the bid. It makes sense! The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will give all Queenslanders something to look forward to in an otherwise challenging climate amid this pandemic. Just as importantly, it provides a platform to supercharge our infrastructure programs, reaffirms our place on the International Stage, brings all us Aussie

Following on from recent advocacy from your Chamber the Council of the City of Gold Coast is announcing a significant proposal for the Courts Precinct in Southport which will be a key driver of the Southport CBD.

Study Gold Coast are proud to have partnered with Southport State High School and Southport Sharks to support disadvantaged students on the Gold Coast. This event will be fun, engaging and interactive and attendees will have an opportunity to win some amazing prizes.

All profits from your tickets will support disadvantaged students so they can access support, buy essentials and play sport.