Charters Towers Regional Council has become the 20th council to sign the Small Business Friendly Council charter, joining the pledge to support small businesses in the region.
Minister for Employment and Small Business, Di Farmer welcomed Charters Towers to the growing list of councils that have signed up to the charter.
“Small businesses are the heart and hubs of our local communities and are crucial to our $14.5 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan,” Minister Farmer said.
“They are our families, our friends, our neighbours and they keep our communities strong.
“It’s fantastic there are now twenty councils committed to the small business friendly charter, with another 27 in discussions to join this growing community.”
Charters Towers Mayor, Frank Beveridge said Council’s commitment to supporting local small business was highlighted in its 2021 Advocacy Plan.
“We are excited to join with other Councils in pledging our commitment to being Small Business Friendly,” Mayor Beveridge said.
“By being a part of this initiative, Council will be able to access tools and resources to support our local businesses. It will help us attract investment and commercial opportunities to stimulate growth in our local economy.
“We look forward to working with the Queensland Small Business Commissioner to assist our local small businesses to thrive.”
Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Maree Adshead, who co-signed the SBFC charter with Mayor Beveridge, said it confirmed the value and benefits brought by the initiative to now have 20 councils signed up.
“I am so pleased that 20 councils across Queensland have pledged their commitment to placing small businesses front of mind when making policy, regulatory and purchasing decisions,” Ms Adshead said.
“Congratulations to Charters Towers for signing the charter and for joining this growing family of like-minded councils committed to working with us, and with each other to benefit small business.”
The Commissioner said small businesses operating in other council areas are already benefiting from their council signing the charter.
“For example, I was in Kingaroy recently and saw first-hand how the local businesses have been accommodated to minimise disruption during their CBD transformation works,” Ms Adshead said.
“The engagement tactics and disruption minimisation efforts in Kingaroy were inspired by the learnings and experience of a fellow small business friendly council. The information exchange and experience sharing between small business friendly councils is working to benefit small businesses across the network.”
The SBFC charter was developed with the Queensland Government in conjunction with councils and aims to recognise and encourage the support of local councils to actively support small businesses to recover and build resilience following disaster and economic challenges.
There are currently 20 SBFCs across Queensland. When a council signs the SBFC charter they are pledging a commitment to:
- communicate and engage
- raise small businesses profile and capability
- support resilience and recovery
- simplify administration and regulation (red tape reduction)
- ensure fair procurement and prompt payment terms
- promote place-based activities.
Find out more about the Small Business Friendly Councils (SBFC) initiative at www.business.qld.gov.au/qsbc or by phoning 1300 312 344.
