Loans system supporting Land Aboriginal Land Council business enterprises

28 June, 2016

Loans system supporting Land Aboriginal Land Council business enterprises

28 June 2016 

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has reached a new milestone in its economic development strategy with the release of Early Stage Investment Loans.

NSWALC Chair Roy Ah-See said loans of up to $500,000 would be offered to Local Aboriginal Land Councils and related business entities for business enterprises.

"The Land Rights network expects the NSW Aboriginal Land Council to provide strong leadership in economic development.

"The NSW Aboriginal Land Council started the journey to economic self-determination in 2014 by investing $16 million over five years to provide start-up capital, business development and capacity-building.

"Transforming gains from Land Rights into an independent economic base is a key priority for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and we are prepared to back that up by fostering business ideas that can generate jobs and training.

"A key barrier for Local Aboriginal Land Councils starting or growing a business is a lack of start-up capital. By funding early-stage business operations, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council is helping attract capital from other sources."

Cr Ah-See said NSWALC was accepting applications from LALCs with ideas that were "investment ready".

"Local Aboriginal Land Councils must have, at a minimum, a business plan with sufficient thinking into the commercial and operational viability of their idea.

"The NSW Aboriginal Land Council will contribute up to a maximum of 50 percent of the overall value of the loan with the Local Aboriginal Land Council contribution to be no less than 5 to 10 percent.

"That means applications will also have to show that funding partners have been secured to cover the percentage of capital not covered by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the Local Aboriginal Land Council's own contribution."                                                                         

All applications will be assessed by an independent panel.

Further information and application forms are available at /about-nswalc/economic-development.aspx  

Questions about Early Stage Investment Loans can also be directed to NSWALC's Economic Development Unit on 02 9689 4444 and by emailing ecodev@alc.org.au

_____________________________________________________________________________ 
Media contact: Andrew Williams 0429 585 291

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

Image