President Aileen MacDonald said the group brought diverse backgrounds with them and looked forward to working with potential start-ups and new businesses. Finding empty spaces, getting creative with the community and building commuity confidence.

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“We want to provide resources and opportunities to assist creative starts ups find commercial spaces, this will benefit tenants, property owners and the community – it is a win/win for all who become involved,” Mrs MacDonald said.

“People are always saying that nothing ever happens in the CBD, and I think that we’ve always tended to ask ‘What can council do?’ or ‘What can the shops do?’ and sometimes I think it should be ‘Well what can we do as a community?’

“We’ve got to think outside the square and find different uses for the spaces.”

Mrs MacDonald said Renew Armidale was not here to compete with existing businesses but to collaborate, and along the way help with new ideas that create a vibrant atmosphere and aid all businesses in shopping districts.

The organisation will partner with property owners to help reduce their liabilities and bring in new tenants to create a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Renew Armidale secretary Garry Slocombe said the committee will soon have a temporary office location at 163 Beardy Street Mall.  In the first instance opening times will be unreliable. Call 0490 384 185 at any time for more information or to make an appointment or find further details can be found here.  

“The store front will give people an opportunity to find out what we are doing, to express an interest in starting up or in helping to make Renew Armidale a success, and the mall a fabulous place to be,” he said.