Boost to benefit Mackay businesses

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015: SMALL businesses in the Mackay region will soon have access to specialist advice thanks to a Liberal National Government funding boost of $770,000.A dedicated small business advisor will be appointed within weeks, to provide businesses with assistance to help them navigate changing economic conditions.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 Central Queensland Small Business Services, 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.Any small business, those with less than 20 staff, will be able to access assistance.Interviews for the Mackay business advisor are currently being conducted, and I expect this process will be finalised in the next two weeks.The funding boost for the region was announced in mid-July by Small Business Minister Bruce Billson, after I joined with the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce to lobby for access to ASBAS services.Chamber of Commerce representatives Peter Jones-Trifelly, Kylie Porter and Tim Miles, joined me in Canberra in May to meet with Minister Billson.