Recovery dollars to aid local business

Shire of Narrogin electors will each receive $50 worth of “Narrogin Dollars” to spend at eligible local businesses by the end of August. The Narrogin Dollars concepts is part of the Shire’s COVID-19 relief and recovery strategy, endorsed by councillors at last week’s council meeting. The Shire has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Narrogin Chamber of Commerce to design, print and distribute the Narrogin Dollars vouchers to the estimated 3177 electors in the shire. It is understood each elector will receive five vouchers with a value of 10 Narrogin Dollars to spend at more than 100 participating NCC businesses. Businesses will be encouraged to get involved with the program, which will start on June 2 and is expected to inject more than $150,000 into the local economy. As part of the initiative, the NCC will offer free 12-month membership for about 130 businesses in the shire. The Shire plans to write to all electors later this month to detail the program. Shire chief executive Dale Stewart said staff would be redeployed with the help of YMCA Narrogin to help with the distribution of Narrogin Dollars. At last week’s meeting, councillors also voted to provide immediate rate relief packages for eligible businesses. Priority funding relief would be made available for cafes, bakeries and hotels forced to close on March 23, and beauticians, masseuses and spas shut on March 26.