Loans now available for disaster-affected businesses from the Western Queensland surface trough and associated rainfall and flooding.

Financial assistance is available for primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits impacted by flooding in Western Queensland.

Disaster Assistance Loans and Essential Working Capital Loans have been activated for businesses in Barcoo, Boulia, Bulloo, Diamantina, Longreach, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, and Winton local government areas.

These loans are designed to support small businesses to re-establish operations relating to:

• Repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment
• Repairing or replacing buildings
• Restocking inventory to resume operations

Eligible primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits can apply for:

• Disaster Assistance Loans – Up to $250,000 to support essential recovery efforts.
• Essential Working Capital Loans – Up to $100,000 to assist with immediate operational costs, including wages, rent, and creditor payments.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply – follow these links: Disaster Loans and Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans

Should you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact the team at MGI.

Small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in South East Queensland can now apply for disaster assistance loans to support their recovery.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred – Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants are available to assist directly impacted primary producers, small businesses and non profit organisations with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement.

Disaster recovery grants are now available to primary producers, small business and not-for-profits in 16 local government areas that were impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

These grants will fund up to $25,000 for clean-up and return to operation costs, including:

• debris removal
• replacing damaged equipment
• building repairs
• safety inspections
• restocking and replanting

For more information on these points below and to apply click here: Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants

• What assistance is available
• How to apply
• How can the assistance help you
• Eligibility criteria
• Defined disaster areas
• What documents do you need
• How to apply

Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority has opened applications for:

• Concessional loans to help with re-establishing normal operations.
• Essential Working Capital loans to provide assistance with essential working capital for expenses

Disaster Assistance Loans up to $250,000 and Essential Working Capital Loans up to $100,000 are available to eligible operators.

Loans can be used to repair damaged assets, restock supplies, and for the costs of sustaining operations and have been activated for eligible operators across the Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba.

• Disaster Assistance Loans up to $250,000 for eligible small businesses and primary producers and up to $100,000 for eligible not-for-profits will cover the repair or replacement of damaged equipment and infrastructure, and restocking.
• Essential Working Capital Loans up to $100,000 are available to help business operations continue, including paying salaries or wages, creditors, rent or rates.
• Freight subsidies up to $5,000 are also available to impacted primary producers to move stock or produce, or to have essential supplies deli

Concessional loans are available provided that certain criteria are met. For further information regarding what assistance is available, loan amounts, terms, interest rates, eligibility and how to apply, visit the QRIDA website.

The links allow you to toggle for criteria for each industry e.g. Primary Producers, Small Business and Not-for-profit organisations.

Should you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact the team at MGI.

Made in Queensland (MIQ) is a $121.5 million Queensland Government program helping small and medium sized manufacturers to increase international competitiveness, productivity and innovation, and to generate high-skilled jobs for the future. MIQ supports traditional manufacturers to adopt industry leading equipment, technologies, systems and processes.

Applicant guidelines for Made in Queensland round 7 are now available and the online application form is open. Applications will close at 1.00pm on Friday 24 January 2025.

Queensland-based manufacturers looking to adopt industry leading equipment, technologies, systems and processes that include energy efficiency, export, reshoring, supply chain improvements, sustainability and/or advancement of decarbonisation and net zero outcomes are encouraged to apply for matched funding grants of $50,000 to $2.5 million.

In Round 7, up to $2.5 million (excluding GST) of available funding has been set aside for applications which do not involve the purchase of equipment (see Section 2.3.3) and are seeking less than $250,000 (excluding GST) each in funding. These applications will proceed through the same two-stage competitive selection process as all other applications

Successful MIQ applicants will be required to execute a funding agreement with the Queensland Government. An example funding agreement is provided below for information purposes.

MIQ – Round 7 Funding eligibility and application guidelines

Please contact the team at MGI if you have any questions or need assistance in your application.

Round 2 of the Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grant Program is now open.

The Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grant (MEEG) Program is a $7.1 million Queensland Government program helping the manufacturing sector to increase their competitiveness in a low carbon future by implementing energy efficiency measures that reduce energy costs and operational emissions.

Applicants should allow up to 12 weeks from submission for assessment of the application.

Queensland-based manufacturers looking to increase energy efficiency measures and technology, reduce energy usage and costs, reduce emissions and increase awareness of energy use are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $50,000. The applicant guidelines provide the full details including eligibility and assessment criteria.

Applications will close on 30 June 2025 or when all funding for this round is allocated.

Round 2 – Manufacturing Energy Efficient Grant Guidelines and Submission Form

Please contact the team at MGI if you have any questions or need assistance with your application for an energy efficiency grant.

Manufacturing grants are available through the Manufacturing Grants Hub Program (MHGP) to assist eligible businesses in the Cairns, Central Queensland, Gold Coast, Mackay and Townsville regions.

These grants are an opportunity for manufacturers to become more productive, build advanced manufacturing capabilities and create the jobs of the future through:

• technology adoption
• skills and training
• business development
• advanced robotic manufacturing hub services.

Grants between $10,000 and $500,000 are available for eligible manufacturing small to medium enterprises.

The Program (MHGP) supports the growth of Queensland’s regional manufacturing industry by helping small to medium enterprises (SMEs) build their advanced manufacturing capabilities.

The program helps regional manufacturing SMEs to:

• improve productivity by building international competitiveness, generating jobs and stimulating private sector investment
• adopt new technologies in equipment, robotics, processes, systems, software, data use and analytics
• improve energy efficiency and sustainability, and progress energy and carbon footprint management
• create and maintain high performing workplaces through increased management capability, leadership, and the development of skilled employees including advanced manufacturing apprenticeships and traineeships

Round 4 of the MHGP will be open to eligible applicants until 30 June 2025 or until all funding has been allocated.

For more information on how to apply and program guidelines visit the Queensland Government Manufacturing Hub Grant Program website.

If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, please reach out to the team at MGI.

The Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant will provide funding to support women-owned businesses to grow and develop. Eligible businesses can apply for a grant of up to $5,000 (excluding GST) to build their business capability and also boost local economic impact.

This Women In Business grant opportunity has already opened and applications close at 4pm on 14 October 2024.

Eligibility Criteria:

• To have an active ABN and be registered in Queensland
• Headquarters/business outlets based in the Brisbane Local Government Area
• Must be an Australian Resident/Citizen
• Must be a woman in business with a minimum of 50% ownership of the business
• Applicants must be 18 year of age (proof of ID) at time of application
• The business needs to be operating/trading for the full financial year of 2023/24
• Not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are an undischarged bankrupt
• Annual turnover between $75,000 and $500,000

More information can be found on the Brisbane Business Hub but don’t hesitate to contact the team at MGI for any assistance.

The Business Basics grant program provides support to businesses to increase core skills and adopt best practice. This round of Business Basics (Round 6) is focused on business enhancement. The program is administered by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT).

This program is applicable for businesses with less than 5 employees and a turnover of less than $300,000. With increased funding to $7500, start planning your registration of interest in the latest round of small business grants, Business Basics.  Applicants can apply for funding for grant funded activities under the following priorities:

• Professional business advice
• Strategic marketing services
• Website build and upgrades.

Opening Date: Registration of Interest (ROI) opens at 9am, Monday 30 September 2024.

Closing Date: Stage 1: Registration of Interest (ROI) closes at 5pm, Friday 11 October 2024

Access to supporting documentation and eligibility criteria is available on the Queensland Government Business website.

Please reach out to the team at MGI, if you need support in preparing your application.

The Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) has announced that HR support grants of up to $5,000 (excl. GST) are now available for small businesses.

These grants are designed to assist small businesses in addressing their workforce challenges.

Small businesses eligible for the grant must: 

• Have an active ABN
• Demonstrate their principal place of business in QLD
• Be registered for GST
• Have < 20 employees
• Have an annual turnover of less than $10 million
• Demonstrate at least 50% of the business’s income is generated directly from the business
• Declare that owners/directors are not insolvent or undischarged bankrupt

Additionally small businesses must have engaged with an Industry Workforce Advisor to complete a workforce plan that clearly identifies the workforce challenges and solutions to address these immediate HR needs through the use of the HR Support grant.

Industry Workforce Advisors have been established to provide tailored assistance to small to medium employers by developing workforce plans to address gaps in their workforce. To be eligible for the HR support grant, workforce plans must be completed in collaboration with an Industry Workforce Advisor.

Applications close on 30 June 2025 or until the $1 million of funds available are exhausted (whichever is sooner).

For all eligibility criteria and how to apply, click the Qld Govt Grant website.

Please do not hesitate to contact the MGI team if you have questions or need assistance for your application process.

For small businesses to enhance their efficiency and productivity.

This support includes funded activities in 3 project areas:

• Future planning
• Specialised and automated software
• Planning and systems for staff management and development.

Available Funding:

• $10,000 – $20,000 excluding GST
• Applicants to contribute an equal amount to the funding requested

Stage 1 is open (registration of interest)

Closes on Friday 5^th of July at 5.00pm

More information on eligibility and the application process can be found here.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to MGI if you have any questions or need assistance to complete the application.