The Western Research Institute (WRI) hosted a breakfast this week to connect with local businesses, tourism operators and Mid-Western Council - part of their 20th anniversary events, which they say are building up to something special to mark the milestone later this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
WRI is a regional economics and development research organisation that works with all tiers of government, not-for-profits, industry entities, universities and research institutes on a range of social and economic development projects and program evaluations in regional areas.
"The Board decided to meet in Mudgee and host an event with the business community after meeting representatives of Mudgee Regional Tourism the 2018 NSW Business Chamber awards. WRI and Mudgee Regional Tourism met while celebrating our category wins in the regional Chamber awards'' Kathy Woolley, WRI CEO, said.
Chair of the organisation, Juliet Duffy, said that a significant project in the works to be co-funded by WRI and partners under the WRI Inland Research Fund will improve information resources, particularly for smaller areas who are often forgotten in state and federal data collection processes.
"WRI has increased our direct contribution to economic development in regional Australia through the Inland Research Fund. We will launch the Fund's first project later this year," she said.
"This project is particularly exciting for smaller regional centres like Mudgee and will promote further economic prosperity and support their initiatives in areas like Mudgee.
"It will be a game changer for regional centres providing data and analysis missing at the smaller town level. We have secured some funding partners and will launch the first Inland Research Fund initiative in mid 2019."
Ms Duffy added "WRI has a lot to celebrate in our 20th anniversary year".
"In 2018 WRI helped businesses and councils to secure close to $110 million dollars in funding for regional initiatives. We are focused on continuing to offer an affordable and reliable range of support to regional areas," she said.
