The Fund offers annual grants of up to $20,000 for new and existing smaller-scale events, to assist in areas such as marketing, public relations, venue hire and attendee research.

Mr Marshall said the Government recognised the value events brought to local economies throughout rural and regional NSW.

“The Incubator Fund is part of the NSW Government’s $43 million record investment in rural and regional tourism and aims to support new or second-year community events across the state, with a pathway for future growth and development,” Mr Marshall said.

“The NSW Government has secured and retained more than 290 rural and regional events since 2011 and I encourage the organisers of eligible events to lodge an application so we can continue to expand our wonderful NSW Events Calendar.

“From food and wine events to music and sporting festivals, I know that rural and regional events play an important role in growing the NSW economy and I look forwarding to welcoming more visitors to our State for some of the country’s best local community events.”

The 2017/18 Incubator Event Fund is available to organisers staging an event for the first or second time.

Applications for Round One are now open and close on Sunday, 1 October 2017, with Round Two, set to open in February next year for events held in July to December 2018.

To lodge an application and to view the 2018 Incubator Event Fund’s key criteria and terms and conditions, visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/rfep.

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