In a massive boost for the CBD and especially Molesworth Street, HammondCare will open its regional office in Lismore at number 138, next door to Brands Pharmacy or the old NAB building.

HammondCare is a health and aged care provider with HammondCare at Home the focus for the Northern Rivers area headquarters office in Molesworth Street.

For the CBD that means 56 people working, eating & drinking in the CBD, 16 administrative staff and 40 care workers.

Chief Executive Mike Baird told the Lismore App they will be hiring a further 15 to 30 more care workers in the growing aged care field.

"Business is growing and if anyone in the community is looking for employment and interested in looking after our elderly, we would love to hear from you."

If you don't have skills in the aged care area, don't worry because complete training from beginning to end will be provided.

"It's a special role, very purposeful and if you've thought of a career change, I encourage you that now might be a good time to do it," Mr Baird said.

When our CBD is looking pretty desolate as pre-flood owners are still questioning if they will reopen, why the CBD and why now?

(The clean and empty building at 138 Molesworth Street)

"We are one of the big providers of care in the region and in Lismore we have a number of clients. For me, it was a pretty simple equation, it's an opportunity to play a role both in terms of supporting a growing business and we needed a base, and to me, having an opportunity to support a community to get back on its feet by investing in Lismore proper and hopefully encouraging other businesses to come."

"So, there's hope on all levels here. I mean, hope in terms of the broader community and providing jobs but also the care we're providing continues and expands and played a really significant role actually, during the flood."

"My team are very clear on how much a community meant to them. They went above and beyond not only with clients but neighbours and friends and the whole community, they were there sandbagging through getting clients to hospitals, through pulling people through the floods. I mean, they did everything, and to me, this is just a small way we can support, you know, invest here and provide additional services. I hope that delivers a kind of a beacon of hope in what's been a pretty dark time."

HammondCare knows the trauma of being affected by the February mega-flood as 5 staff and 11 clients lost pretty much everything.

Gabriel Hooper is a care worker who purchased his first home in Rhodes Street, South Lismore late last year. The water went up to his ceiling and, like many others, he and his partner were rescued from their house on the 28th. Gabriel has been staying with friends and probably will for the next twelve months while his home is rebuilt.

"We've had to gut the interior, it's much more open-plan now (laughs). Interior walls, the bathroom, the kitchen all gone."

Gabriel, like many others, is trying to juggle work and the rebuild as he and his partner slowly put their lives back together.

"It's affected my work in that I'm only back three days a week at the moment because I'm also trying to organise all the trades and materials and things like that. Even the everyday stuff like banks and sorting things out with the car which was to be done in March just didn't get done for very obvious reasons."

CEO Mike Baird acknowledges and supports his staff and clients as they rebuild their lives and hopes to encourage other businesses to move to Lismore.

"Like Gabriel and like the whole team, they're doing everything they can to help get the community back on their feet and, you know, I hope this is just a small symbol that encourages other businesses to come."

As for an opening date for 138 Molesworth Street, Mr Baird said they were hoping for September or October but as we know with the lack of trades and material this is not set in stone.

Mayor Steve Krieg apparently has promised a Christmas beer for all businesses that open before the 25th of December. "We hope to be here and open by then," Mr Baird concluded with a smile.