New Loan Scheme to support bushfire-affected small businesses
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Small businesses and primary producers in the state's bushfire-affected communities will have access to $500,000 low interest loans under a new loan scheme announced today.
The Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the initiative was delivering on the Government's commitment to communities recovering from the nightmare of Black Saturday and the Gippsland fires.
Under the low interest loans scheme the Government will allow bushfire-affected businesses to apply for concessional government loans until 30 September 2011.
In addition, businesses which have previously received loans under that scheme will be able to apply to extend their loan to a maximum of $500,000.
The Government will also make non-property secured loans of up to $50,000 available to small businesses at a concessional rate of 3.2 per cent per annum for the first five years to enable them to get back on their feet.
The non-property secured loans will give small businesses with limited security in bushfire-affected towns a helping hand and the chance to reinvigorate their local community from the ground up.
Under the scheme small business operators who lost everything in the fires will have the capacity to carry out repairs or purchase items to help restore business operations.
For more information on concessional loans contact: Visit www.ruralfinance.com.au or call Rural Finance, Bendigo, on 03 5448 2600.
