Business Basics grants on their way to Cairns small businesses

Small businesses across Cairns are set to receive $5,000 each from the first round of the Palaszczuk Government’s Business Basics grants program.

Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said the successful businesses are currently being notified.

“Backing small businesses is central to the Palaszczuk Government’s $14.2 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, and these grants are one of the ways we’re doing that,” Minister Farmer said.

“After listening to small business owners throughout the state at the Small Business Roadshow, we launched these Business Basics Grants as part of our Big Plans for Small Business package during Small Business month earlier this year.

“The grants were open to businesses, including non-employing sole traders, with a turnover of up to $300,000.”

Member for Barron River, Craig Crawford, said more than 55 businesses in Cairns had been awarded the $5,000 grant.

“The Business Basics grants are designed to help businesses in Cairns increase their core capabilities and ability to adopt current best practice,” Mr. Crawford said.

“They can be used for activities such as training and coaching, website development and upgrades, and strategic marketing.

“We know that these grants were really popular, and that some regional businesses missed out.

“That’s why a second round of Business Basics, exclusively for non SEQ small businesses, will open next month.

“The guidelines will be published on Wednesday 25 August and applications will open at 9am on Wednesday 8 September.”

Hungry Hummingbird Cake Shop in Cairns was one of the businesses to receive a grant in this round. Owner and cake decorator Anthea Giles says the $5,000 grant will allow the business to revamp its online store which opened in December last year in response to COVID-19.

"We took our first online order on December 11 and since then 80 per cent of our business is via the website," Anthea said.

"The grant will help us totally overhaul our eCommerce strategy and increase online promotion of the new products with photos of our new range of smaller special occasion cakes, updated pricing and improved usability for mobiles.

"The grant has come at the right time to help us grow the business not only in store at our Port Douglas and Cairns cake shops but through our online store which is a new way of doing business for the Hungry Hummingbird."

Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave, Curtis Pitt, said Business Basics were the first of three Big Plans for Small Business Grants programs to be awarded.

“The recipients of the new Business Boost and Business Growth Fund grants will be announced in coming months,” Mr Pitt said.

“The different grant programs target specific groups within the sector and continue to deliver on the government’s commitments under the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy.

“The Business Boost grants of up to $15,000 will help small businesses to improve their efficiency and productivity through organisational development, while the $50,000 Business Growth Fund grants will allow businesses to buy highly specialised equipment to seize and accelerate growth opportunities.

“The type of grants, business requirements and the application process are a direct result of feedback from the Small Business Roadshow.”

Member for Cairns, Michael Healy said the Business Basics Grants are in addition to the recently announced COVID-19 Business Support Grants jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments.

“Applications are now open for grants of between $10,000 and $30,000 for businesses in Cairns that have been impacted by recent lockdowns - with money already on its way to the first businesses - as well as information on the support for non-employing sole traders,” Mr Healy said.

“There’s also the cleaning rebate for exposure sites and nearly $50 million in support and benefits for tourism and hospitality businesses.

“As well as financial assistance there is a range of tailored one on one support including our Mentoring for Growth program, Small Business Financial Counsellors, and the Queensland Small Business Commissioner.

“I’d encourage all businesses to head to www.business.qld.gov.au to make sure you’re taking advantage of the range of support available.”

Media contact: Kate Talbot, 0439 803 211