How about a little cash for Christmas?

​I know many businesses over the coming weeks will be winding down operations and winding up end of year celebrations. But before you don your party gear and pop the champagne, you may like to take a look at some exciting new funding opportunities that have recently become available.

First up The Queensland Government has committed to provide $3 million in grant funding over the next 3 years to established Queensland-based small businesses to engage business mentors, coaches, or an advisory board, for 6 to 12 months.

This is exciting news for businesses looking for help identifying and implementing high growth and/or employment opportunities.  Perhaps you want to improve your management processes; operational systems; employ a larger team; enter new markets; or increase turnover and/or profit. Well these are all areas of growth the Government are looking to support you with financially. 

It's called the Accelerate Small Business Grants Program and it provides targeted assistance to small businesses that demonstrate high-growth and employment aspirations, to engage high-level expertise for their business... uhum... from a you know, professional and experienced business advisor :-).

To be eligible for this grant, your business must have a minimum trading history of 4 years and a turnover of at least $750,000. There are a few additional criteria, but these are the biggies. For full details, here's a direct link to the Queensland Government website.

Now if you're a new business, a smaller business, or you have different business goals, you may be interested in the Small Business Digital Grants Program?

This Program provides small businesses with access to digital technologies and services to enable them to work smarter, engage with the global economy and make the most of online business opportunities arising from digital disruption.

The digital technology or service must fall under one of 5 identified priority areas:

• digital marketing and social media
• digital content (web pages, mobile apps, media etc.)
• receiving payments or selling online
• specialised digital technology or software (business specific)
• digital planning and advice/training

For this opportunity there is no tenure or turnover criteria. However Round 1 submissions are closing soon on 9 December 2016. If this is too soon, Round 2 will be opening in March 2017, so put it in your diary.

​For full details, here's a link to this grant on the Queensland Government website.

Hopefully you'll have time before the holidays to submit your applications. I'll be here through December if you need any help. I am away for a few weeks in January, but I'll send details of that a little closer to the date.

If I don't speak with you beforehand, have a wonderful and safe holiday break. Enjoy your time with family and friends. You deserve it!

​David