Leading the COVID recovery

Despite taking a hit, many of Penrith’s local businesses are optimistic about the future post COVID-19.

In a survey conducted to support Penrith’s Economic Recovery Taskforce respondents noted an increase in local support.

Development applications have also been steadily increasing in April, May and June, so confidence is high and this will also help ensure viability in one of our City’s biggest employing sectors, the construction industry, through a pipeline of projects.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM, who chairs Council’s Economic Recovery Taskforce, said he had been impressed by the support shown by the community to local business and wanted to help steer the City’s recovery to ensure a more resilient future.

"It is about keeping jobs, getting jobs back and creating new ones," Cr Fowler said. "Creating jobs close to home has always been a priority for Council, and now, with the challenges raised by COVID-19, we need to work even smarter to stimulate the economy and foster diverse employment opportunity."

Penrith has around 15,000 businesses, with 96% of those are "small businesses" employing less than 20 people.

The Taskforce, in conjunction with the Community Recovery Taskforce, has been leading work to develop a 30 day Response Plan and 100 day Recovery Plan for the city. A draft of the plans was tabled at the August meeting. The economic focus for the plans, which were tabled at the August meeting, include investment attraction, marketing and promotion, arts, culture and events, financial support and increasing people and movement within health guidelines.

Community and organisational capacity building, engagement, resilience and financial support are key actions for the community taskforce, chaired by Deputy Mayor Karen McKeown.

Cr McKeown said "We’ve worked hard over the past months to stay connected with our community even while we’ve been apart, and we need to leverage the innovative programs we’ve developed to keep our residents safe and engaged as we move into the new normal."

The 30 and 100 day plans drafted by the Taskforces will now be presented to Council’s ordinary meeting in October.

Image: Confidence is high for Penrith and St Marys businesses who have welcomed more locals into their stores.