Qld govt dishes AU$50,000 dot-com lure - News - Business

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Qld govt dishes AU$50,000 dot-com lure

By David Hellaby, 0
January 15, 2001
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Qld-govt-dishes-AU-50-000-dot-com-lure/0,139023166,120108133,00.htm

Queensland companies are being offered a AU$50,000 government handout to put their businesses online.

The cash is part of a series of incentives being offered by the State Government as part of its strategy to brand Queensland as the Smart State.

The Queensland Government says it will provide more than $2 million over the next two years to assist business to get into e-commerce. It will come from an overall budgeted $1 billion being spent as part of a 5 year IT&T strategy now in its second year.

Under the grant scheme, announced by State Development Minister Terry Mackenroth, businesses will be able to apply for grants of between $5000 and $50,000 for each project.

The funds will be granted on a dollar-for-dollar basis and administered through the State Development Department.

Mr Mackenroth said the scheme had been developed to address the needs of firms and groups of businesses wanting to use e-commerce to penetrate new markets, as well as to save on time and cost of delivery of new products.

As a further incentive the government has announced it is developing an e-procurement strategy that will see all major departmental purchases done through a centralised e-marketplace. Meanwhile, regional and remote community associations in the state are to be provided with funds to employ IT trainers.

At least 24 associations ranging from business to senior citizens groups are expected to benefit from the scheme announced by the government this week. In the lead up to Christmas the government announced it would help fund IT companies wanting participate in international trade shows.

Small to medium size enterprises wanting to exhibit their wares at overseas trade shows can apply for subsidies of up to $5000 for a maximum of two international shows a year.

The government-funded Information Industry Board will also provide training workshops for the owners, managers and staff of eligible businesses with the aim of giving the participants the necessary skills to get the best outcome from trade shows.