Published Friday, 12 January, 2007 at 08:41 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
EXTRA STATE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CYCLONE LARRY
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relation John Mickel today announced that the State Government has more than doubled the amount of assistance available to businesses in north Queensland affected by last year’s devastating Cyclone Larry.
He said funding for the Cylone Larry Special Assistance Grant Scheme had risen from $2M to $4.7M to help the region’s business and industry continue to recover.
“After a mid-term budget review, more money was allocated which will enable the Government to assess a late surge of applications which were received at the end of 2006.
“The Government is currently reviewing these applications and applicants will be notified in the near future as to the outcome.”
Mr Mickel said that since the Scheme was set-up in May last year, more than 400 applications have been received and more than 200 grants totalling more than $2.3M had been approved.
“The Cyclone Larry Special Assistance Grant Scheme was set up by the Department of State Development as part of the Queensland Government’s existing Regional Business Development Scheme,” he said.
“It provides up to $10,000 for the preparation of business recovery plans to identify short, medium or long-term business prospects, labour availability, ways to recommence exporting and other initiatives to help restore businesses to pre-cyclone capacity.”
Mr Mickel said business and industry in North Queensland affected by Cyclone Larry also may be eligible to apply for other State Government on-going business assistance programs and services.
The additional funding is on top of an estimated $18.5 million already committed by the State Government.
More information telephone 4048 1111 or visit the Cairns State Development Centre, Cairns Port Authority Building, corner Hartley and Grafton Streets.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 12 January, 2007
He said funding for the Cylone Larry Special Assistance Grant Scheme had risen from $2M to $4.7M to help the region’s business and industry continue to recover.
“After a mid-term budget review, more money was allocated which will enable the Government to assess a late surge of applications which were received at the end of 2006.
“The Government is currently reviewing these applications and applicants will be notified in the near future as to the outcome.”
Mr Mickel said that since the Scheme was set-up in May last year, more than 400 applications have been received and more than 200 grants totalling more than $2.3M had been approved.
“The Cyclone Larry Special Assistance Grant Scheme was set up by the Department of State Development as part of the Queensland Government’s existing Regional Business Development Scheme,” he said.
“It provides up to $10,000 for the preparation of business recovery plans to identify short, medium or long-term business prospects, labour availability, ways to recommence exporting and other initiatives to help restore businesses to pre-cyclone capacity.”
Mr Mickel said business and industry in North Queensland affected by Cyclone Larry also may be eligible to apply for other State Government on-going business assistance programs and services.
The additional funding is on top of an estimated $18.5 million already committed by the State Government.
More information telephone 4048 1111 or visit the Cairns State Development Centre, Cairns Port Authority Building, corner Hartley and Grafton Streets.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 12 January, 2007