The federal government has opened a new round of funding for its small business entrepreneurship prorgam, offering grants of up to $300,000 from a pool of $8 million set aside for the purpose.
The federal government has opened a new round of funding for its small business entrepreneurship prorgam, offering grants of up to $300,000 from a pool of $8 million set aside for the purpose.
Industry bodies, community groups, small business centres, business incubators, education providers and recruitment agencies are among the eligible recipients for the program which is administered by AusIndustry and caters for training, mentoring, incubation and succession planning for young business people.
Below is the full announcement:
Funding Round Open - Small Business Entrepreneurship Program (closing 31st January 2006)
The new Small Business Entrepreneurship Program will provide competitive grants funding typically within the range of $50,000 to $300,000 to service providers for four types of projects in the areas of business skills training, particularly for young entrepreneurs, as well as mentoring and succession planning.
The objective of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Program is to foster entrepreneurship, including maximising the growth potential and sustainability of small business through:
- improving business skills of small business owners and/or managers, including providing succession planning strategies while ensuring business continuity; and
- providing incubation services to maximise small business growth potential and/or business sustainability.
Examples of potentially successful grants might include export development training seminars, accessing finance workshops or providing advice for retiring small business operators to transition their business to young entrepreneurs. More than $8 million in grants is available in 2005-06.
Program Potential Applicants
Organisations that deliver services to small businesses, and which meet the applicant eligibility requirements, may apply for assistance under the Small Business Entrepreneurship Program. These organisations may include, but are not limited to:
- industry associations;
- professional and business organisations;
- community organisations;
- business enterprise centres;
- educational institutions including universities and TAFEs;
- local economic development agencies;
- local government authorities;
- recruitment agencies.
The Four Types of Projects
Training and Mentoring Projects: Applicants interested in providing business training and development in specific, individual areas of business administration (eg, marketing, business plans, export strategies, etc) are encouraged to apply for a Training and Mentoring Projects grant.
Succession Planning: Applicants interested in providing an integrated package of skills necessary to maintain business continuity for small business operators looking to exit their businesses are encouraged to apply for a Succession Planning grant.
Incubator Establishment Funding: Applicants interested in establishing a new small business incubator are encouraged to apply for an Incubator Establishment Funding grant.
Incubator Post-Establishment Growth Funding: Applicants interested in assisting an established incubator to develop and grow are encouraged to apply for an Incubator Post-Establishment Growth Funding grant.
Further information is available at: http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/content/level3index.cfm?ObjectID=94A93704-9495-4D3E-B8C0B5A7755B20B0&L2Parent=AEB901E5-7CB8-4143-A3BF33B2423F9DA6
