MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has welcomed Guyra and Inverell Shire Councils to the Small Business Friendly Councils program, an initiative that is transforming how local councils work with their small business communities.
Mr Marshall said the program was an Australian first, giving councils in NSW the opportunity to be formally recognised as ‘Small Business Friendly’ and demonstrate their commitment to their local small business community.
“Just six months after launching in September 2014, the program has attracted over 60 participating councils, which represents around 315,000 small businesses and almost 50 per cent of all NSW small businesses,” Mr Marshall said.
“The program also provides opportunities for neighbouring Small Business Friendly Councils to share information, initiatives and strategies that strengthen the small business sector.
“A series of Small Business Friendly Councils conferences to be held across NSW in April and May giving local councils the opportunity to share programs, ideas and success storied with neighbouring councils,” Mr Toole said.
“Key note speakers will present on working together for the benefit of small business, procurement and public domain activation, three topics identified by the Small Business Friendly Councils as key to improving their engagement with small businesses.”
Mr Marshall said Guyra and Inverell Shire Councils had taken that extra step to support small businesses.
“This program demonstrates how working together can make a real difference to the NSW community. Guyra and Inverell councils are looking into ways to make the day-to-day operation of a small business easier and I commend them for joining such a valuable program,” he said.
The program was developed by the NSW Government in partnership with the NSW Business Chamber.