The Ashburton District Council’s Open for Business marketing campaign was nominated for an award in the recent ALGIM 2020 Special Awards Programme. Ashburton District Council secured 2nd Place in the ‘New Initiatives Project’ category announced on 2 October 2020. Auckland Council took 1st Place for its COVID‐19 Track and Trace solutions which were developed in-house in response to the emerging needs of the organisation during the COVID‐19 lockdown.

Open for Business is an active marketing campaign that encourages residents, where they can, to spend their money locally, helping local establishments to stay open and provide jobs. Alongside a district-wide advertising and promotional drive, the campaign features a free online intuitive business directory (midcanopenforbiz.nz) which helps people find businesses that are open, what their offerings are, and any exciting specials or deals available. The Council-supported campaign eased some of the financial pressure on businesses to advertise and re-establish themselves.​

While Ashburton District Council did not come away with the top spot for its Open for Business campaign in this instance, it does demonstrate that the Council is implementing great initiatives on par with much larger councils.​