More than two-thirds of Western Australian small businesses are now operating within small business friendly local governments.

The City of Rockingham, City of Belmont, Shire of Carnarvon and Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale have joined our Small Business Friendly Local Governments initiative during the first half of 2020. The initiative was developed to recognise those Local Government Authorities (LGAs) that are committed to actively supporting small businesses in their local area.

By signing up to the initiative, LGAs agree to identify, improve and review key strategies to deliver better services and build closer relationships with their local small businesses. All the signatory authorities have committed to:

  • offering enhanced customer service
  • reducing red tape
  • making payments on time
  • having a process to handle disputes
  • introducing other activities to improve the operating environment.

A total of 44 local governments, representing 156,822 small businesses in the WA, have now committed to being Small Business Friendly.

The initiative is part of an approach to improve the operating environment in cooperation with all levels of government, to help small businesses thrive. We have also created Small Business Friendly Projects, to help minimise the impact of construction on businesses by working with state and local government authorities as well as small business owners.

Are you in a small business friendly local government area?

With more than 69 per cent of LGAs participating in the initiative, there is a good chance your small business is located in a small business friendly local government area.

Each signatory to the initiative makes a range of commitments to help small businesses in their city, shire or town to survive and thrive. Check whether your local government authority has signed up.

SBDC news
Small business friendly
06 July 2020