The McGowan Government is supporting Goldfields-based Aboriginal businesses to take advantage of new opportunities to grow and build their capacity in the region.
Individual grants of up to $20,000 will be available to start-up and existing Aboriginal businesses as part of a new Goldfields Building Better Aboriginal Business grant, delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
The grants will support businesses to undertake training in corporate governance, develop business strategies and be positioned to pursue new opportunities in the Goldfields to increase earning and employment capacity.
Successful applicants will also receive specialist coaching in business management to assist with identifying opportunities to diversify their business and support the implementation of business action plans.
This competitive grant round is open to eligible Aboriginal-owned businesses located and operating within the Shires of Dundas, Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Menzies, Leonora, Laverton, Wiluna, or the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.
Northern Goldfields-based businesses are strongly encouraged to apply to support businesses to take advantage of local opportunities, including sandalwood industry development, the carbon economy, cultural tourism and creative industries.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Aboriginal businesses are a key and growing part of the fabric of Western Australia's regional economies.
"This funding is targeted towards Aboriginal businesses in the Goldfields region to enable them to take on emerging opportunities in mining, primary industries, tourism and civil contracts with State and local government.
"We are committed to driving jobs and economic development for regional Western Australia, and the Aboriginal Governance and Leadership Development program and grants support will build strong foundations for Aboriginal businesses to grow and thrive across the regions."
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"Success stories from Aboriginal businesses are becoming increasingly frequent as the sector builds its breadth and capacity.
"Grants programs like this, combined with the McGowan Government's Aboriginal Procurement Policy, are supporting this growth while creating local jobs.
"The continued growth of Aboriginal businesses reflects the McGowan Government's ongoing commitment to Closing the Gap, in particular the efforts to build the Aboriginal community-controlled sector."
