By JOLENE OGLE
THE State Government has announced a $1 million boost for home-based entrepreneurs, with $5000 grants to help grow local business up for grabs.
The Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow scheme offers two grants of $2500 to Queensland home-based business owners caring for at least one child under 12 years, and is designed to help the business owner grow their business.
The first grant of $2500 for stay-at-home parents is so they can engage a consultant for professional advice and the second grant of up to $2500 is for the business owner to make improvements to their business, which is something Little Fish Media owner and mother of one, Emily Black would love to apply for her business.
Emily runs her public relations company from her home, and said the grant would help her to focus on the accounting and bookwork side of her business.
“I’m a creative person, so help with the accounting and book work would be great,” she said.
“I would love the opportunity to engage a professional who can help me learn how best to run my business and make the most of my income.”
Emily currently employs two content writers including Leah Heylbut, who is employed via a government scheme that offers a subsidy for wages.
“It’s a great scheme, and it’s really helped us to grow the business,” Emily said.
“This new scheme, Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow, will hopefully do the same for Little Fish Media and help us grow to employ even more local people.”
Emily, who is due to give birth to her second child next week, said the announcement of the scheme was perfectly timed.
“With the birth of my second child, I’ll be taking some time off, so I will have time to really focus on learning how to better my business from a professional,” she said.
“Initiatives such as this give parents like me, who work from home, better flexibility and it means I don’t have to rely on government support.”
Emily said it could be hard for parents who wanted to work and live in towns such as Noosa, with flexible jobs not often available.
“But, I’m willing to sacrifice the income I could make working full-time in a media job to be able to be at home when Jahman comes home from school,” she said.
“It can be tough running your own business, but it’s worth it when you get to spend so much time with your family.”
Applications for the grant open on Monday 24 August and home-based business owners can apply online.
To find out more, visit www.business.qld.gov.au/business/support-tools-grants.
