The latest grants under the Palaszczuk Government’s $8 million Social Enterprise Jobs Fund have been launched, offering organisations in the growing sector up to $200,000.
Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said guidelines are now available online for the new Sector Development Grants, which open for applications on 6 January.
“Social enterprises are businesses with a social purpose – they just seek to do good,” Minister Farmer said.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to backing the sector as part of our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, because we know it leads disadvantaged Queenslanders into secure jobs.
“We are investing $1 million in this grants program – the third released this year as part of the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund – to help organisations with additional staff, research and engagement and training programs.
“So far, the fund’s Community Development Grants and Growth Grants have seen more than $1.2 million go to 66 projects throughout the state.
“We’ve invested in a whole range of projects, from a rural telehealth service in Central Queensland to a restaurant skilling migrant women in Brisbane’s east.”
Minister Farmer said the new sector-wide grants will fund projects that support the development and growth of social enterprises across Queensland.
“More than 60 per cent of our social enterprises operate in the four key sectors of health care and social assistance, administrative and support, accommodation and food services and arts and recreational,” the Minister said.
“We are building on the Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy to create a sustainable and thriving sector, and we’ll do it by developing capability and capacity, fostering connections, raising awareness, and improving market access.”
As part of the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund, the Palaszczuk Government has also committed:
- $385,000 to the Queensland Social Enterprise Council to raise the profile of social enterprises as suppliers to the private sector and for regional hub development activities.
- $660,000 over the next two years to improve access to government procurement opportunities
- $100,000 to sponsor the 2022 Social Enterprise World Forum, to be held in Brisbane in September 2022.
For the Social Enterprise Sector Development grant guidelines and information on support available for social enterprises visit desbt.qld.gov.au/training/future-skills-fund/social-enterprise-grants or call 1300 369 935. Applications close on February 11, 2022.
The fourth grant to be released early next year is the Social Enterprise Development Grants, supporting social enterprises that have traded for less than one year to start and build their sustainability.
