South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto has urged the community to step up and support small business during Queensland Small Business Month.
And he unveiled a plan to launch a “Local Marketplace” to provide local business with more opportunities to supply Council with goods and services.
“May is the month to show your support for Queensland’s small businesses. Shop locally and show how you support small business on social media with #supportsmall,” Mayor Otto said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many of our local small businesses now operate. We all need to do our bit to help the business community stay open, recover and support local jobs.”
The #supportsmall initiative was developed by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland.
The SBRC has supported the initiative in its weekly Business South Burnett e-newsletter BEAP BEAP, including providing a link to a counter sign that businesses can download and print out.
Businesses can also become involved by posting on social media using #supportsmall.
Mayor Otto said the SBRC supported local small businesses through a “local preference” clause included in its Procurement Policy.
This provides local industry with an opportunity to tender for Council business by offering a higher price margin for local businesses, ie. 10 per cent for goods and services under $50,000, and 5 per cent for goods and services over $50,000 up to $200,000.
However, he said Council proposed to launch a Local Marketplace which would provide local business and industry more opportunities.
These “non-contracted, ad-hoc supply arrangements” could include catering, stationery, parts, tools and equipment, clothing and uniforms and “numerous other categories of supply”.
