Push to help get funding

A GRANTS taskforce is being established to link businesses and individuals with specialists who can help access grants and other government assistance packages.

The initiative is being led by local businessman David Donohue.

Mr Donohue said he was surprised at the amount of funding available but which many people seemed unable to access.

“There is currently a real disconnect between the people who really need help, the many opportunities for them to be given assistance and the resources they might need to complete the application processes,” Mr Donohue said.

“We hope to simplify this and make the links.”

He said the first step would be for potential suppliers and specialists to register their interest. Individuals or organisations interested in becoming taskforce providers can register at www.surveymonkey.com/r/grants_taskforce.

Mr Donohue said the taskforce welcomed all support providers – government, community, individuals and fee-for-service operators – to register so they could be put in touch with those who needed their support but may not know where to turn.

“Some people might just need some free advice to point them in the right direction. Others might need a full turnkey solution for which they are willing to pay,” Mr Donohue said.

Mr Donohue said, initially, the service would be trialled in and around Townsville, but they hoped to quickly extend it across the North and North West as well.