Small Business Recovery and Reinvigoration Fund reopened

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Due to community interest and need, Council has reopened the Small Business Recovery and Reinvigoration Fund. This is part of a wider flood recovery package in response to the 2022 floods.

The program will help businesses that were inundated by the 2022 flood event to improve their resilience, adapt their business for future growth and fast-track their recovery.

Support measures include up to $5,000 per eligible business to assist with the following:

  • Professional advice and support.
  • Digital and marketing activities to assist local businesses discover new customers and grow revenue.
  • Relocation costs for affected local businesses wanting to move to other locations within Logan.
  • Replacement, repair or restoration of essential items for business operations such as signage or furniture.
  • Rebates on approved business development courses to develop disaster preparedness and mitigation skills.
Apply

To be eligible you must meet the eligibility criteria, which includes

  • be a small business owner who provides local employment opportunities.
  • hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster.
  • employ up to, but not exceeding, 20 full time equivalent employees.
  • located in the Logan City Council local government area and has suffered direct inundation and damage, caused by riverine and/or creek flooding to premises as a result of
    the disaster.
  • have been engaged in carrying on the small business when affected by the eligible disaster.
  • be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application.
  • intend to re-establish the small business in the City of Logan

Full eligibility, and terms and conditions can be found by downloading a preview form from the Smartygrants website

What assistance is available?

Businesses will have the ability to use any of the financial support programs outlined below to a combined value of $5,000 per eligible business.

  • Small Business professional services support: Connecting critically impacted local businesses to professional advice (preferably provided by businesses located in Logan) to assist in addressing and recovering from the disaster. Eligible businesses will be able to receive rebates for professional advice in four categories Accounting and Insolvency, Grant writing, Human Resources and Legal Services.
  • Small Business kick start and go digital: Kick starting promotion and marketing activities for critically impacted local businesses to discover new customers and grow revenue, through new digital and marketing campaign expenditure and participation in an approved digital shop front/ e-commerce programs.
  • Small Business Relocation: Relocation assistance provided for critically impacted local businesses seeking to relocate to other locations within Logan. Add in examples of costs that will be covered
  • Small Business owner development: Invest in business owner disaster preparedness and mitigation skill development on approved business development courses.
  • Small Business reinvigorate: Support the replacement, repair or restoration of essential physical items for business operations such as signage or furniture for critically impacted local businesses.

Business Boost Grants – Round 2 opening soon

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Small businesses ready to take their business to the next level are being encouraged to apply for a Business Boost grant up to $15,000.

Previous recipients of a Business Boost grant have used the funds to introduce an online booking system, redevelop their website, develop a customised workplace health and safety system or train their staff.

Program guidelines, FAQs and terms and conditions for the latest round are now available. In response to feedback, a new two-stage application process has been introduced:

1️⃣   From 9am 12 August to 12 midnight 19 August small businesses can register interest in the grant program by completing a simple online form that collects basic business information.

2️⃣  A number of businesses will be selected through a ballot process and invited to complete a full application. All valid registrations of interest will have an equal opportunity of being selected. All businesses that have registered their interest will be informed of the outcome of this stage.

Businesses invited to complete an application will have two weeks to submit.

For more details visit the Business Queensland website

Another $100 million for small business recovery grants

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Queensland small businesses impacted by COVID-19 are set to receive an additional $100 million in support to help them recover.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a second round of the Small Business COVID-19 Adaption grants of up to $10,000 would be made available from next month to help more small businesses survive, maintain and grow their staffing levels.

“Our small business community has spoken, and we have listened and responded as part of the second stage of our Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs plan,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Round one of the Small Business grants received an overwhelming response.

“In the second round, we are prioritising regional areas and allocating half of the funding to support small businesses in regional Queensland.”

Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman said the plan is about supporting our small businesses to create more jobs for Queenslanders.

“Small business owners, including those who had expressed interest in the first round, are encouraged to prepare the required documentation in readiness for grant applications opening on July 1,” Ms Fentiman said.

“They should read the eligibility guidelines now to ensure they have all the documentation ready to submit their application.

“First round grants have been approved for businesses right across the state from the south-east corner to the Douglas Shire in the far north and west to Goondiwindi and Longreach.

“The upfront grants of up to $10,000 will assist those small businesses forced into hibernation, to restructure, significantly change their business operations or move online.”

The grants can cover:

  • Preparing for the safe resumption of trading
  • Ongoing operating costs
  • Accessing digital technologies
  • Responding to online opportunities
  • Upskilling and reskilling business owners and staff
  • Embracing business diversification
  • Creating or retaining employment.

For more information visit www.business.qld.gov.au  

LEARN MORE

Free webinars to help you prepare your grant application

RDA Brisbane is hosting two free webinars on the program next week. You can maximise your chances of success with expert and government advice on the application process and requirements.

When are the webinars?

Tuesday 23 June, 12pm to 1pm

REGISTER 23 JUNE

OR
Wednesday 24 June, 4.30pm to 5.30pm

REGISTER 24 JUNE

About the sessions

The sessions will be conducted by three digital and business experts, and a representative from the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training. They’ll cover:

  • An overview including what supporting documents are needed
  • How to write the grant i.e. key elements
  • Acquittal of funding
  • Grants process – What the online application looks like
  • Investing in business training – What to look for and why

These will be interactive sessions with opportunities for Q & A.

For further information on the webinars contact Sha Wharton: shaleen@rdabrisbane.org.au

For more information and assistance, please contact Logan Office of Economic Development.

Queensland Government announces Indigenous tourism strategy

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The Queensland Government and Tourism & Events Queensland have named 2020 the Year of Indigenous Tourism.

“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been proudly practicing and preserving their cultures by sharing it with the next generation for tens of thousands of years,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“In modern times, their culture and stories have been an integral part of our tourism industry, attracting people from all around the world to learn more about the world’s oldest cultures.

Tourism Research Australia reports that 351,000 overseas visitors and 116,000 overnight domestic visitors took part in an Indigenous tourism experience in Queensland in the year ending March 2019.

The Queensland Government has launched a new $10 million Growing Indigenous Tourism in Queensland Fund to create economic opportunities and jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

The fund will support new, unique and innovative Indigenous tourism products and experiences in Queensland, particularly in regional areas. The fund comprises 2 categories, offering up to $25,000 to develop concepts for tourism products or experiences, and $250,000 to $1 million to improve or develop key tourism infrastructure or facilities.

Indigenous Tourism Development Service

Additionally, the Queensland Government is establishing a dedicated Indigenous Tourism Development Service to support Indigenous tourism in the state.

The new service would work with emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander operators to start and grow their businesses and products.

“The new Indigenous Tourism Development Service will play a key role, providing on-the-ground support for Indigenous tourism businesses, helping them access government and industry services,” Tourism Minister Kate Jones said.

“This is about growing our tourism industry to create jobs in Queensland.”

SEQ Indigenous Tourism Strategy

The State Government is also working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to develop an Indigenous tourism strategy for South East Queensland.

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the Palaszczuk Government wanted to give tourists greater access to Indigenous cultural experiences and to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with more business and employment opportunities.

“A working group of Traditional Owner groups from SEQ will identify gaps and opportunities to develop the tourism industry to deliver broad benefits across the entire region.”

Sprits of the Red Sand in Beenleigh is one of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences, featuring in the Discover Aboriginal Experiences brochure. The interactive theatrical performance includes dinner served on the homestead’s broad patio and shuttle transfers to and from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Mike Tamaki and Eddie Ruska perfected the play’s dialogue through extensive consultation with community elders, ensuring that the story, based on true events, is told in a way that is at once educational and inspiring.

The success of this experience highlights the opportunities that Logan City Council is keen to encourage. The Logan Destination Management Plan 2018-2022 seeks to position the city as a specialist cultural and arts events centre.

 

Need help establishing or growing your indigenous tourism offering in the City of Logan? Contact us on 07 3412 4888 or send us a message.

 

More information:

Funding of up to $5,000 for small artisan producers

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The Small Business Artisan Producer Grants Program will provide assistance to artisan producers of gourmet food (including non-alcoholic beverages) to help them grow their businesses, access new market opportunities and enhance their gourmet food expertise.

Queensland is home to a growing number of local producers and the Palaszczuk Government wants to support more purveyors of tasty treats to get their products to market.

Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman launched the Supporting Artisan Producers plan at the Brisbane City Markets alongside local stall holders.

“Whether its honey or macadamia nuts, chocolates or jams, cheeses or gluten-free goodies, Queensland’s artisan producers are creating one of a kind food and beverage products,” Ms Fentiman said.

“We are committed to supporting artisan food and beverage producers and assisting them to grow and reach their goals and this is what the Supporting Artisan Producers plan will do.

“We want more artisan businesses to start, grow and employ more Queenslanders and that’s why we have detailed a range of measures including the new Artisan Producer Grants.

“These grants will provide up to $5,000 that can be used for professional advice to take their business to the next level or develop a website or digital marketing campaign to help them work smarter and enhance their online presence.”

“We are also working to tailor our fantastic Mentoring for Growth program to cater to the needs of artisan producers to ensure we are helping businesses reach their full potential.

“As part of our commitment to support artisan producers, I have also asked the Better Regulation Taskforce to conduct a review of how we can streamline licensing and process requirements for artisanal food and non-alcoholic beverage producers to sell their product.”

Mark Power, founder of Goodwill Projects who operate a variety of iconic Brisbane farmer’s markets – including The Beenleigh Town Square Markets – welcomed the launch of the plan to promote and assist the growing artisan community.

“Queensland is home to so many incredible producers and it’s fantastic initiatives are in place to plan for the future growth of the industry,” Mr Power said.

“Local stall holders such as Darren and Jo Molloy from Old Cossack Kifir Beverages are already stocking their beverages in stores across Australia and we want to help other local producers like them to expand locally, and internationally.”

Applications for the Artisan Producer Grants opened on July 11.

“By working in collaboration with our stakeholders, we will continue to support Queensland’s diverse range of artisan food and beverage producers,” Ms Fentiman said.

For more information about how the Artisan Producers Action Statement is assisting food and beverage producers in Queensland visit https://desbt.qld.gov.au/artisanproducers or call 1300 654 687.