New Grant for Canterbury Businesses Welcomed

Canterbury’s leading business recovery agency is welcoming a new grant, which it says will provide some much-needed relief for small businesses.

The Independent Advice for Small Business grant was developed by Red Cross, with assistance from Recover Canterbury.  The grant has been approved by the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Commission, which has been established to oversee the disbursement of the more than $73 million donated to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal.

The grant of up to $750 aims to help small and family run businesses access professional legal and accounting advice in relation to the effect of earthquakes on their business.  It is available to any business with fewer than ten employees that has been negatively impacted by the earthquakes and has a genuine need for financial assistance in order to access professional advice. 

Recover Canterbury Communications Manager Pip Tschudin says the new grant is great news for many small businesses.

Recover Canterbury’s 23 business recovery coordinators work directly with earthquake-affected businesses.  They report that some of the key issues facing businesses include staffing issues, increasing operating costs, leases, insurance and raising capital.

“These are complex issues and in order to tackle these issues it is vital businesses get the right advice.  But for many businesses cashflow is tight and accessing that advice can be a challenge in itself.  This Red Cross Independent Advice for Small Business grant will be a welcome relief for many small businesses as it will allow them to connect with their professional advisors to help them overcome the challenges they are facing,” says Mrs Tschudin.

Applications for the Independent Advice for Small Business grant are available through Recover Canterbury.  Any business that wants to apply for the grant can contact Recover Canterbury on 0800 50 50 96 or at www.recovercanterbury.co.nz .