Its three-year state government funding package to clean and fill vacant shops and offices in Newcastle's CBD runs out in 2015.

At last week's council meeting Renew Newcastle founder Marcus Westbury tried to convince councillors to reinstate council funds for the program.

The council funded the program in the 2012-13 financial year but decided against funding it for the next two years.

At the meeting, Mr Westbury presented a rundown of what Renew Newcastle had achieved since it started in 2008.

That includes fixing 70 properties in Newcastle and helping 169 projects find a home.

Twenty of those projects have "graduated" and become lease-paying tenants. Another two have gone on to buy the building they occupied.

Mr Westbury said Renew Newcastle was calling on Newcastle council to reinstate its support of the organisation financially.

"We need to find more [money] because we'll be stuffed if we can't," Mr Westbury said.

Renew Newcastle costs $200,000 a year to run, employing the equivalent of two full-time staff.

Mr Westbury said Newcastle had experienced a 25 per cent increase in tourism since Renew Newcastle started.

Councillor Sharon Waterhouse said Renew Newcastle had been a "defining" project for Newcastle and the council should support it.

Deputy lord mayor Brad Luke said council staff would help track down possible funding sources.

Late last week the Hunter Development Corporation said it would contribute $30,000 to Renew Newcastle annually.