22 April 2022
Madeleine Ogilvie, Minister fort Small Business
There is no greater supporter of Tasmania’s 39,000 small businesses, as the Government recognises that the small business sector is crucial to growing our economy and creating jobs for our community.
Small businesses will receive even greater support and representation over the next three years through the first round of the Regional Chambers of Commerce Collaboration and Business Development Fund grants.
Following an assessment process, grants of up to $30,000 have been awarded to the following eight regional chambers across Tasmania:
* Flinders Island Business Inc;
* George Town Chamber of Commerce;
* Business Eastern Shore;
* Central Coast Chamber of Commerce & Industry;
* Kentish and Latrobe Independent Business Association Inc;
* Northern Midlands Business Association Inc;
* Business Northwest; and
* Launceston Chamber of Commerce.
This funding will support recipients to undertake projects and initiatives that benefit their small business members while promoting collaboration and business development across regional Tasmania.
Funded projects will commence before 30 June 2022 and include programs that support collaboration with local communities, delivery of training, events, forums and supporting member engagement.
Since the start of the pandemic Tasmanian businesses have received more than $160 million in nation-leading COVID-specific support.
This support is having an impact and the latest CommSec State of the State Report has Tasmania still leading the nation as the best performing economy in the country.
Quotes from Gordon Williams, Chief Executive of the Kentish and Latrobe Independent Business Association (KaLIBA) and Northern Midlands Business Association (NMBA):
“For the first time this funding will enable these local not-for-profit business associations to reach out to all of their more than 1,000 registered small business members and tackle their individual issues”.
“The one-on-one interviews as part of the outreach program, will enable targetted supports, as well as networking between diverse small businesses to foster local supply chains, innovation, and circular economies”.
“The local associations in Northern Midlands, Kentish and Latrobe can now take the lead in tackling the critical issues of small business red tape, regulatory reforms, skills and employment, and the fallout of Covid that are affecting so many small businesses”.
