Uptown Accelerator

A District is a geographically distinct micro-area (e.g., a high street or block of streets) that has a unique identity and diverse cultural and entertainment offerings across multiple venues within walking distance. A District is not an entire suburb.

A District Team must include three or more local businesses, social enterprises and/or arts and cultural organisations that are aligned under a unified identity with the purpose of engaging residents and visitors. District team members may come from various sectors such as accommodation, arts and culture, tourism, hospitality, live performance, retail and sport.

There is no limit to how large a team can be, the more collaborators the better. However, for the practical purpose of the Accelerator, it is worth noting there are attendance expectations which are detailed in the Admission Guidelines.

All team members must participate in the Orientation Day and visioning workshop in person, and at least two team members must attend all other sessions.

Even if your organisation is not located in a particular District, you can still join a District team that already has at least three members located in the District. Collaboration is not limited to geography, but you should consider whether your vision aligns with the local businesses and what you can contribute to the team.

Alternatively, even if you are not formally part of a District team, you could be a potential collaborator, partner or sponsor for a District.

Yes, there are circumstances where a District cuts across multiple LGAs, however please ensure that it meets the definition of a District (see the Admission Guidelines).

Yes, Uptown can still help established Districts to further build their capacity and connections.

Federal, state, and local government departments and agencies are not eligible to participate except for arts and cultural institutions and other bodies specifically engaged in the District Team’s ordinary course of business.

If a member of the District Team is a government body, this must be specified in the application with justification for this involvement provided.

District Teams must comprise three or more members from different organisations whose physical business address is located within the proposed geographical boundaries of the District. Business chambers are not precluded from being part of a District Team and should consider the definition of a District before applying.

The Accelerator can host 25 teams. Read the Admission Guidelines for further information on how applications will be assessed.

The majority of the councils we surveyed identified that better collaboration between businesses would make the biggest difference to achieving a successful 24-hour economy in their area. The Accelerator aims to do this.

Benefits to councils of District teams participating are likely to include: 

• building a strong, diverse and aligned business community 
• new marketing and attraction opportunities for your LGA
• improved resident amenity

Even though councils cannot participate as a District team member, we encourage councils to work closely with and support Districts in their development.

There are a number of ways councils can champion and promote the Accelerator, including: 

• identify suitable local Districts and encourage them to apply
• connect individual businesses and business groups together
• share the opportunity with businesses and/or business groups  
• host events to connect local businesses and educate groups about the benefits of the Accelerator and how to apply
• make available a key contact point within council to support local Districts
• provide guidance to District teams for their application 

We welcome council representatives to contact the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner via uptown@enterprise.nsw.gov.au for more information on how councils can get involved in supporting the program in their local area.

Applications need to be submitted by a team comprising three or more members from different organisations. Each team application must therefore include at least three different ABNs.

The lead applicant in your team may apply using the ABN of a District entity or business chamber. At least two other team members should indicate what organisation they represent with a different ABN.

You can engage with other businesses by contacting your local council for connections, doorknocking businesses in your area, emailing or phoning them to get involved. Use our Fact Sheet for Businesses to inform your neighbours of the opportunity.

If you would like your details to be shared with potential collaborators, contact us at uptown@enterprise.nsw.gov.au

We encourage as many businesses in a local area to engage with each other and apply as a team. However, an application won’t be deemed ineligible just because another team from the same area has applied separately – we will help to facilitate the combining of those applications if it makes sense to do so.

As indicated in the Admission Guidelines, by submitting an application, the lead applicant agrees to be contacted by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner about their application, including the potential for additional members to join the team.

If the geographical boundaries of the District proposed in your application overlaps with another application, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner will contact the lead applicant in those applications to assist the teams to combine if appropriate.

The District Showcase is an opportunity to pitch your District vision at scale to a diverse audience of organisations (such as brands, tourism promotion agencies, festivals, tech companies etc.) that may be interested in sponsoring or partnering with your District to attract visitation. How your District engages with potential partners and collaborators is entirely up to your team. The event is ultimately an opportunity to pitch and connect.

If you would like to make minor amendments to an existing application, please email us at uptown@enterprise.nsw.gov.au before the deadline and we will amend the application on your behalf. Minor amendments may include correcting typos, updating contact details, and adding new members to your existing team. You must provide all mandatory information required in the application form for the amendment to be made.

For major amendments, such as deleting a team member or changing the lead applicant, you will need to submit a new application for consideration.

Teams or team members who participated in the Uptown Accelerator in 2022 or 2023 are not precluded from participating again. However, in accordance with the Admission Guidelines, priority may be given to Teams that have not been part of the Accelerator before.

Districts Teams that have applied for, or received, funding under the Uptown Grant Program are not precluded from participating in the Accelerator.

All applications will be assessed in accordance with the Admission Guidelines.

Whilst the Uptown Accelerator is often referred to as Stage 1 of the Uptown District Acceleration Program, the Uptown Accelerator is a standalone program.

The Uptown Grant Program (often referred to as Stage 2 of the Uptown District Acceleration Program) provides funding to eligible District Teams to coordinate their District and grow consumer engagement. Funding for Stage 2 is subject to the NSW Budget which is due to be delivered in June 2024. Any announcement on Stage 2 will be made after that.

Key dates for the Uptown Accelerator will be updated in the FAQs as they are confirmed. Check back here for updates.

The final Accelerator timetable will be communicated to successful applicants.

Businesses do not need to operate in the night-time to be part of a District Team. The Uptown Accelerator welcomes any business (such as cafes, libraries, retail stores etc.) with an interest in supporting the going-out economy of the local area, both in the day and at night.