Local Government
Here is some information that will provide you with some funding from your local Cairns council to help your business growth.
Economic Development and Innovation.
Cairns Regional Council offers a suite of funding and incentives to help stimulate significant economic and community benefit, strengthen and diversify the region's industry base, and foster the growth of new and existing business activities.
Economic Diversification Fund
Council's Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) supports the development and delivery of projects that will result in demonstrated economic benefit to the Cairns region. Support may be in the form of a cash grant or in-kind assistance from Council or a combination of the two.
Industry Development Fund
Council's Industry Development Fund (IDF) supports the development and delivery of industry development projects that will result in a demonstrated economic benefit to the Cairns region.
http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/invest/services/funding
NBN high-speed broadband now available in Cairns
The National Broadband Network (NBN) is now live in Cairns, offering affordable, high-speed broadband to local businesses and homes.
Many businesses in Cairns can now connect, and NBN Co is developing different solutions to suit the various building types and associated network and communications infrastructure for those wishing to connect.
Businesses should contact their Retail Service Provider (RSP) to determine if they can connect now and if the RSP offers the required services. Current RSPs operating in the Cairns area are:
- Telstra - phone 1800 834 273 or visit www.telstra.com.au/unlockamazing
- Commander - phone 1300 682 163 or visit www.commander.com/nbn
- iPrimus - phone 1300 FIBRE 1 (1300 342 731) or visit www.iprimus.com.au/nbn
You can follow the NBN roll-out and find local RSPs at the NBN interactive map. More information about the NBN is available at the NBN Co website or by phoning the NBN Co Contact Centre on 1800 687 626. The NBN Co website also contains some videos that provide a general overview of the NBN.
http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/invest/innovation/digital
TNQ20 Business Excellence and Tropical Innovation Awards
Cairns Regional Council has been strengthening the region's reputation as a hub for tropical innovation and our regional businesses have been demonstrating excellence both nationally and internationally.
In 2014 Council delivered the TNQ20 Business Excellence & Tropical Innovation Awards an entire program of events to celebrate and develop business and innovation excellence in TNQ. The TNQ20 program highlighted business excellence and innovation within the TNQ region, and provided capacity-building opportunities for those striving for best practice.
Central to the program was the TNQ20 Business Excellence & Tropical Innovation Awards, which were presented on 11 July 2014. Complementing the awards was a comprehensive program of events, workshops and initiatives including:
- Knowledge Cafes - series of free capacity building and specialised innovation workshops
- Pitching competition
- Lunch with an innovator
- TNQ20 Awards presentation event
