Small Business Minister, Senator Nick Sherry, has today launched a Belmont online program aimed at helping businesses in any disaster affected region across Australia.

Small Business Minister, Senator Nick Sherry, has today launched a Belmont online program aimed at helping businesses in any disaster affected region across Australia.

The Belmont Business Enterprise Centre in Perth is one of 25 not-for-profit business advisory organisations to receive Australian Government funding totalling $2.5 million, under the Small Business Advisory Services - Natural Disaster Assistance (SBAS NDA) initiative.

The Belmont BEC will deliver help through its virtual presence, the My Business Incubator. The other 24 SBAS NDA providers are targeting specific regions, metropolitan and regional, hit by recent disasters.

Belmonts My Business Incubator is the disaster assistance national provider and will assist any affected small business across Australia, Senator Sherry said.

Belmont will deliver this support through one-on-one telephone assistance, email, mentoring through web meetings and group training webinars.

My Business Incubator differs from the Small Business Support Line, which is also an excellent Australian Government initiative for small business.

My Business Incubator offers specific, tailored and in-depth advice to a business under stress or needing advice to rebuild after the recent natural disasters.

All SBAS NDA services are free or low-cost, provided by specialist industry professionals.

Additional to the SBAS NDA funding, Belmont BEC has been partly funded since 2008 by a four-year $1 million grant, under the Australian Governments Small Business Advisory Service - Business Enterprise Centre (SBAS BEC) initiative. It has assisted around 8500 businesses and provided more that 10,200 services.

I congratulate Belmont BEC Chairman Tim Hammond on his teams strong record in delivering support and information for small business start-ups and those wishing to expand or improve their small business, Senator Sherry said.

Under the SBAS BEC initiative, the Australian Government is providing $48.25 million over four years to fund 37 Business Enterprise Centres across Australia.

For more information about the SBAS NDA and SBAS BEC initiatives, or the Small Business Support Line, visit www.ausindustry.gov.au, call the Hotline 13 28 46, or email hotline@ausindustry.gov.au.

BELMONT, PERTH

25 July 2011

Media contact: Joe Scavo 0413 800 757