THE Far North’s small tourism businesses and start-ups will benefit from the appointment of two new local Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS), says Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.
“I’m very pleased to announce that Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) and Cape York Sustainable Futures (CYSF) are two of seven successful applicants for the grants in Australia’s north,” Mr Entsch said.
“These organisations will each be offered $600,000 over the next three years, with the seven organisations in total benefiting from investment of $4.6 million.”
The grants are designed to build the capacity of established not-for-profit small business advisory services to provide low-cost advice to tourism small businesses and start-ups.
“The Government wants to make sure that small businesses in Australia’s north have the information and expertise to help them to make the most of opportunities in tourism,” Mr Entsch said.
“TTNQ and CYSF are already the go-to organisations in the Cairns region and Cape York and are recognised for their fabulous work in this area, so I’m very pleased that they’ll be driving this service for the next three years.”
The Northern Australian Tourism Initiative builds on the existing ASBAS programme delivered across Australia. It is part of the Government’s broader economic strategy to make Australia the number one place to start and grow a small business.
The Australian Government is committed to realising the potential within Far North Queensland, and this funding will increase the capacity of successful organisations to provide expert, tailored advice to small businesses seeking to increase their success in the tourist market.
The Government will work with TTNQ and CYSF to enter into a funding agreement, and it’s anticipated that they will be able to start delivering advice to tourism small businesses and intenders in Australia’s north by May 2016.
Further information on developing northern Australia is available on northernaustralia.gov.au. Further information on the ASBAS programme is available on www.business.gov.au/asbas or by contacting 13 28 46.
