Brisbane businesswomen urged to apply for inaugural Women in Business Grant

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has launched the first-ever Women in Business Grant, with $250,000 available to help women business owners grow and develop their companies.

“Women have demonstrated how they are innovative, creative and dedicated business leaders so we’re launching these exciting new grants to help them develop their emerging businesses,” Cr Schrinner said. 

“These grants will help women utilise new technologies, research, education, and other solutions so they can turn their fledgling businesses into success stories.

“Women represent 35 per cent of small business owners and we need that number to improve. 

“Brisbane’s economy is forecast to grow to $217 billion over the next decade and if we can help more female owners and entrepreneurs succeed, that growth will be even greater.”

The inaugural grants, facilitated by the Brisbane Business Hub, will provide eligible female-owned organisations with an opportunity to apply for up to $5000 each.

Applicant must demonstrate how the grant will assist their business to increase revenue and create jobs while demonstrating their operations are sustainable. 

“The Women in Business Grant is designed to expand the capabilities of each business through training and education, the procurement of professional services, or the purchase of critical business equipment from local contractors and suppliers,” Cr Schrinner said. 

The Lord Mayor also encouraged local owners to get involved with the new official Brisbane App, saying it was a free way to reach tens of thousands of potential customers.

“Our App is part of our commitment to being the most small business-friendly council in Australia and it has been enormously successful,” Cr Schrinner said.

“We have also established a new Small Business Roundtable with experts from across a number of sectors who will help us come up with even more ways to make doing business in Brisbane even easier. 

“I encourage residents to support their local small businesses. It has never been more important to buy local than right now and it is something every Brisbane resident can do to help our community recover.”

Applications for the grant will open today, Thursday 21 October 2021 and close on Thursday 9 December 2021. For more information, click here. 

Aerial of Brisbane Airport runway