Clarence Valley businesses have been recognised among the region’s best at the 2026 Northern Rivers Regional Business Awards, with two local winners and several businesses and business leaders receiving Highly Commended honours.
More than 260 business and community leaders attended the awards, which celebrated achievement, innovation, leadership and contribution across the Northern Rivers.
The regional awards followed local Chamber of Commerce awards programs held across the Northern Rivers since July. Collectively, the local programs attracted 648 entries, with local winners progressing to the regional awards.
Original Sound Lounge and Maclean Medical were the Clarence Valley’s two category winners.
Original Sound Lounge won Outstanding Visitor & 24 hr Economy Collaboration, while Maclean Medical took home Excellence in Small Business.
For Original Sound Lounge’s Pam Hata, the award belongs to the wider community that has helped build and support events in South Grafton.
“While I accepted the award, it really belongs to our artists, our venues and the community behind them who have worked so hard to hold exceptional events that stimulate economic growth for locals,” Ms Hata said.
“It is wonderful to be recognised at a regional level. It shows that what we are building here in South Grafton is valued beyond the Valley.”
The win comes as Original Sound Lounge prepares for the return of Culture on the Clarence on Saturday 18 October, marking the beginning of Jacaranda season.
Ms Hata said the community had asked for the festival to return, with more than 30 local businesses confirming they wanted to see it happen.
Original Sound Lounge is now working with Clarence Valley Council on arrangements to close the road for the festival, with Bendigo Bank South Grafton sponsoring the event.
“That’s what collaboration is about, making things happen and supporting community to deliver for itself,” Ms Hata said.
“Hopefully with yet another local community-led festival story under our belts, we will show up to State and show them exactly what the Clarence Valley can do!”
The Clarence Valley also recorded a strong showing among the Highly Commended recipients.
Australian Medicinal Herbs was Highly Commended in Excellence in Agriculture & Primary Industries, while Coldstream Gallery was recognised in Outstanding Visitor Experience.
Clarence Harvest Celebration received Highly Commended in Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, AveNuPlus was recognised in Outstanding New Business and Spectrum Signs received Highly Commended in Excellence in Micro Business.
Local business leaders were also recognised at the Northern Rivers Business Awards.
Michael Kinahan from Grafton District Golf Club was Highly Commended in Outstanding Business Leader for businesses with 21 employees or more.
Maclean Medical added another two Highly Commended results to its Excellence in Small Business win, receiving recognition in Excellence in Retail & Personal Services and Excellence in Workplace Health & Wellbeing and Hayley Hodgson Highly Commended in Outstanding Business Leader for businesses with 20 employees or under.
Business NSW Northern Rivers Regional Director Jane Laverty said businesses recognised through the awards played an important role in their communities and the regional economy.
“Businesses like those we are celebrating are at the heart of our regional economy. They create jobs and opportunities, invest locally, lead innovation and contribute enormously to the communities they are part of,” Mrs Laverty said.
Across 27 categories, businesses and leaders from throughout the Northern Rivers were recognised.
“All of this year’s finalists, highly commended and winners should feel incredibly proud to be named as the region’s leading businesses and leaders for 2026,” Mrs Laverty said.
For winners of state-aligned categories, the awards journey now continues to Sydney, where they will represent the Northern Rivers at the State Business Awards on 30 October.
Mrs Laverty said she was looking forward to seeing “Team Northern Rivers” represent the region’s broader business community of more than 30,000 businesses on the state stage.
For the Clarence Valley, the regional results put local businesses, events and business leaders in the spotlight alongside some of the Northern Rivers’ leading enterprises, with the opportunity for the region to now be represented on the NSW stage.
