$770,000 boost benefits small business

JULY 15, 2015: WE'VE had a win on a funding boost of $770,000 to support small businesses in Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone.I joined with representatives from the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce to lobby for funding for small business advisory services earlier this year.Today Federal Government Small Business Minister Bruce Billson announced the funding boost of $770,000, which is the largest grant awarded in the country for small business assistance. This demonstrates the level of concern the Abbott Government has for the Central Queensland region.What this means for small businesses in Mackay is that they will have a dedicated adviser in the city who can help them with everything from their finances through to staff team building and engaging customers in our digital world.The Mackay business adviser will provide this level of service through the Central Queensland National Interest Initiative under the Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) programme.It will be a mobile delivery model, so this advisor will be able to travel to businesses to deliver the kind of advice and assistance which provides valuable support.Small businesses are the bedrock of our economy, and if we support them, they can boost their performance and employ more staff.Having access to the right advice at the right time can make all the difference.The funding boost for Central Queensland was allocated to the Bundaberg Business Enterprise Centre (the Bundaberg BEC) and the organisation is ready to hit the ground running. The services will be delivered over three years through to June 30, 2018.Small business advice in the Whitsundays is being delivered by Whitsunday Marketing and Development Limited (WMDL) who were granted $330,000 earlier this year. Small businesses in the Burdekin region receive assistance through a partnership of Burdekin Shire Council, the Ayr and Home Hill Chambers of Commerce and the Townsville Business Development Centre.The additional $770,000 announced today, together with the 2014 ASBAS Business Solutions round funding, brings the total Federal Government funding commitment to Queensland business advisory services to $3.47 million.PHOTO CAPTION: Mackay Chamber of Commerce representatives, from left, Peter Jones-Trifelly, Kylie Porter and Tim Miles, joined Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen in Canberra in May to lobby for small business assistance funding. Their efforts have been rewarded with today’s announcement.