The Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) will be sharing loan information and answering questions at Granite Belt and New England Community Outreach Events next week, held in partnership between the National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA) and Rotary Australia World Community Service (Rotary).
The RIC's federal government backed concessional loans are giving farmers and farm-related small businesses financial breathing space to focus on their business. The loans are also there to help farmers and commercial plantation growers to develop new plantations or replant plantations damaged by the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
RIC Engagement Manager Northern NSW and Queensland Craig Turner said the RIC is looking forward to meeting local farmers and their advisers between 21 - 25 February to provide information on support available and answer RIC loans questions.
"The Regional Investment Corporation loans are designed to help eligible farmers and farming small businesses get back on their feet after tough times through providing financial breathing space or help them to invest in growing their farm business," said Mr Turner.
"We're pleased to support the NRRA and Rotary Community Outreach Events across the Granite Belt and New England regions next week and share loan options available with farmers and farming small business owners that they might not know existed."
The RIC has five concessional loans available. The AgriStarter Loan supports new entrants to primary production and family farming businesses undertaking succession planning. The Farm Investment Loan helps to make farm businesses stronger, more financially resilient, productive and profitable.
The Drought Loan assists farmers to prepare for, manage through and recover from drought. The AgBiz Drought Loan is available for farm-related small businesses affected by drought and the Plantation Loan is for farmers and commercial growers to develop new plantations or replant bushfire-damaged plantations.
The Community Outreach Event details are:
- Stanthorpe, Mon 21 Feb, 2:00pm - 6:00pm, Stanthorpe Civic Centre
- Wallangarra, Tues 22 Feb, 10:00am - 2:00pm, Wallangarra School of Arts Hall
- Deep Water, Wed 23 Feb, 10:00am - 2:00pm, Deepwater Hall
- Bundarra, Thurs 24 Feb, 10:00am - 2:00pm, Bundarra School of Arts Hall
- Guyra, Fri 25 Feb, 10:00am - 2:00pm, Guyra Memorial Hall
