Business Basics deliver pre-Christmas boost

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development The Honourable Di Farmer

Small Business Minister Di Farmer with Bruno and Sharon De Valter, who will launch their first website in the new year thanks to a Business Basics grant.

Christmas might still be two weeks away, but more than 1,120 small businesses across regional Queensland have been gifted more than $5 million in Palaszczuk Government Business Basic Grants.

Announcing the recipients in Mount Isa today, Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said the grants will set new and emerging businesses up for a bumper 2022.

“After a really challenging 18 months or more, we want the New Year to bring newfound success for small businesses right around the state,” Minister Farmer said.

“Delivering the second round of Business Basics now gives our grant recipients – from Weipa to Gympie and west to Winton – the opportunity to grow their core skills and adopt best practice so they’re ready for 2022.

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

“It’s all part of our Big Plans for Small Business Strategy, which has seen more than $17 million paid to businesses so far.”

In Mount Isa, five local businesses will take home $5,000, including Copper Gate Motel.

Owner-managers Iris and Joe Castellano said the business will soon sport a modern website thanks to the Business Basics grant.

“It will enable us to rebuild the motel’s website and the professional upgrade will allow us to increase the number of customers who book directly with us,” Mr Castellano said.

“An improved online presence will help promote the motel which has developed a loyal clientele largely through word-of-mouth recommendations.

“We take pride in the motel’s point of difference, being its homely atmosphere, cleanliness, comfort, courtesy and personal touches and we look forward to being able to reach a wider customer base through the new website.”

Business Basics will also allow Mount Isa homewares, gift and craft shop Stylish Pastimes, to develop its first website.

The business was started 14 years ago by Sharon and Bruno De Valter, who hope to build on their loyal local customer-base by promoting their products to new interstate markets.

“The Business Basics grant will give the business a much greater online presence, as to date, we have relied solely on Facebook,” Ms De Valter said.

“We’re keen to embrace new technology and learn the skills to see this project through to allow so many more potential customers to reach us, in a much quicker way.

“Customers will be able to view our online store through a modern website. They’ll have easy access to our products through the eCommerce platform where they can search our range, make their choices and complete their sale.”

Minister Farmer said the Palaszczuk Government has provided more than $500 million in grants to small businesses since March 2020.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local communities, and we want to support them, their families and their customers,” the Minister said.

“The Business Basics grants are part of the package that includes the new Business Boost and Business Growth Fund grants.

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

“The type of grants, business requirements and the application process are a direct result of feedback from the Small Business Roadshow and our online survey earlier this year.”

The Palaszczuk Government is continually tailoring its assistance to the Queensland small business sector along with its $14.5 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

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