In 2020, the Local Buying Foundation funded its first project in Western Australia.
That project was the Newman Business Excellence Awards, delivered by the Newman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Six years later, the awards remain a valued part of the local business calendar and a reminder of how community-led organisations can help create lasting benefits for regional businesses.
For the Local Buying Foundation, funding has never been about sponsoring a single event. It is about supporting local organisations that understand their communities, know the challenges local businesses face and can deliver initiatives that strengthen regional economies.
In 2020, the Local Buying Foundation’s presence in Western Australia began with just one funded project and one local delivery partner. Today, it supports nine active projects delivered by organisations across the Pilbara, including chambers of commerce, community organisations and leadership providers working to build stronger, more connected business communities.
What began as support for a single business awards event has grown into investment across mentoring programs, leadership initiatives, economic participation projects, business capability programs and regional events designed to create opportunities for local businesses to learn, connect and grow. Organisations such as the Newman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Port Hedland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, First Nations X and Junction Co. continue to deliver projects that support local businesses and help strengthen regional communities.
In 2026, the Local Buying Foundation had invested more than $3.8 million across 38 projects in Western Australia, supporting initiatives designed to strengthen small, local and Indigenous business capability, industry participation and community connections throughout the Pilbara.
Six years on from its first investment in the Pilbara, the Local Buying Foundation continues to support organisations that are helping regional businesses grow. The Newman Business Excellence Awards remain the first chapter in that story and an example of how local organisations can create lasting value when they are supported to deliver initiatives that matter to their communities.
As this year’s awards approach, the Local Buying Foundation is proud to continue supporting the Newman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and celebrating the businesses, leaders and community champions who contribute to the strength and success of the region.