Miles Doing What Matters: State steps up with record support for small business

• Miles Labor Government to deliver greater cost of doing business relief for Queensland’s over 480,000 small businesses.
• Latest Business Basics grant program recipients awarded and next round increased.
• Since 2021, more than 6170 small business grants have been allocated totalling more than $40 million.

A re-elected Miles Labor Government will deliver a record level of financial support to the state’s small businesses through its $250 million Queensland Small Business Strategy.

Labor’s successful Business Basics grant funding will be increased from $5,000 to $7,500 to  help the state’s small businesses improve business cash flow through website builds or upgrades, professional business advice, and strategic marketing services.

The announcement comes as 214 Queensland small businesses from Cape Tribulation to Coomera will be more resilient and responsive - sharing in more than $1 million worth of funding in Round 5 of the grant program.

Funded activities in Round 5 included the purchase of emergency equipment and software, the adoption of physical and cyber security measures including installation of CCTV, and the implementation of energy-efficient technologies.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Lance McCallum:

“Just as everyday Queenslanders are, we know Queensland’s small businesses are doing it tough with national cost-of-living pressures.

“This increase in direct financial support – part of the largest cost of living relief package in the nation’s history – is doing what matters for our hardworking small and family businesses.

“Labor’s new Queensland Small Business Strategy is a $250 million war chest of support for our small business owners and operators when they need it most, and it will help to support the jobs of more than one million Queenslanders.

“Labor has delivered tens of millions of dollars in direct financial assistance to Queensland’s small businesses, compared to David Crisafulli and the LNP’s record… zero.

“The LNP also talk a big game about cash flow and payment terms for Queensland small businesses, but we now know that David Crisafulli was running his own company so badly that it could not meet its costs, it could not pay its debts as and when they become payable.”

Further information

The Miles Government provides a range of grant programs to support small businesses at different stages of growth to increase key capabilities, embrace innovation, and capitalise on high-growth opportunities.

Existing grants programs are:

• Business Basics grants (up to $7,500) – for new and emerging businesses to increase core skills and adopt best practice.
• Business Boost grants (up to $20,000) – for small businesses to enhance their efficiency and productivity, and;
• Business Growth Fund grants (up to $75,000) – for small and medium-sized businesses to purchase specialised equipment.

The Business Basics grants program has been extended under the Strategy – with registrations of interest for Round 6 of the program opening on 30 September 2024.

For more information on Business Basics, a list of successful applicants in the latest funding round, or to register your interest in Round 6, please visit: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/business-basics or call the Small Business Hotline on 1300 654 687.

For more information on the new Queensland Small Business Strategy 2024-27, please visit https://desbt.qld.gov.au/small-business/strategic-documents/small-business-strategy

ENDS