The Government today announced details of the long awaited Clean Technology Investment Program. The CITP will provide $1 billion in funding for manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution and also help manufacturers buy new plant and equipment which cuts their energy costs or reduces carbon pollution.

Eligible manufacturers can apply for funding under the programs from today.

From today Australian entrepreneurs will not have to repay Early Stage Commercialisation grants for businesses developing a new product, process, or service. Additionally, the annual turnover limit for applicants will rise from $20 million to $50 million and access to skilled managers now have the option to apply for an Experienced Executives grant of up to $350,000 - previously $200,000.

The Australian Government's small business website www.business.gov.au. has finally been upgraded to make it more user friendly. Business owners can now search for government funding and support more easily following changes to the Grants & Assistance Finder Tool which provides improved access to government grants and assistance. The search tool lists more than 600 grants but does not provide advice on how to successfully claim each grant.  That still a lucky dip unless you use a professional grants consultant like Pattens.  Contact grants@pattens.com

The Australian Government is committing $A9 million to the Australia-China Science and Research Fund from 2011-12, which will be matched by the Chinese Government. This is in addition to recent reforms to assist Australian researchers to collaborate with international partners.  The recent commitment follows the announcement made earlier this year to provide funding to support Australia-China joint research centres. The Australian Government will provide up to $1 million for each centre which will be matched by the Chinese Government. Joint research centres must include at least one Australian Eligible Research Organisation and one Chinese partner.

Australia's small businesses account for nearly 98 per cent of all businesses in the agriculture sector, about 96 per cent in the services sector, about 91 per cent in the mining sector and just over 88 per cent in the manufacturing sector and also accounted for nearly half of total industry employment and a third of industry value-added in  2009/10.  Clearly small businesses have a major presence in all industry sectors.

Last night at a gala presentation, Pattens Group was award best ‘Business Service Provider’ at the 2011 Import Export Industry Awards. The inaugural awards were created to recognise the efforts of industry specialists who are making a significant contribution to international trade facilitation in Australia. Nominated companies demonstrated outstanding services which assist businesses and individuals who are either importing or exporting products or services within the Australian market and abroad.  Sincere thanks for the support from our clients and friends.

Australian suppliers will be helped to compete for contract opportunities in five major projects in the lucrative resources and health sectors with $1.2 million from the Industry Capability Network (ICN) through the Supplier Access to Major Projects (SAMP) program announced today.

The Trade Minister, Craig Emerson announced the initial payment ceiling for the EMDG scheme will be increased to $50,000 for the 2011 grant year which just ended, compared with the pathetic $27,500 which was paid in 2010. In making the announcement the Minister suggested the reduced demand for EMDG grants over the previous grant year, coupled with changes to the scheme in 2010, have permitted a higher initial payment this grant year.  Could the final payment of only 56% in 2010 be a contributing factor to the reduced demand for the scheme?

The Government announced today payments of $2.5m for 67 companies under the Government's Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Small Business Program to enable them to "refashion" their business enterprise culture with better business and management processes.  The TCF sectors has been selected for support as they are faced challenging times and projects such as putting in place digital systems and improved management practices would help ensure the industry's competitiveness and its long-term viability.   Other industry sectors and exporters are obviously not as challenged by the tough economic times and don't need the same level of support.

The Government today announced the politically motivated $34.4 million Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative to provide Australian suppliers with have a better chance of benefiting from the nation’s major resources projects.  These major resources projects can provide significant opportunities for Australian suppliers. Unfortunately, some suppliers have been missing out because of established global vendor lists and the trend toward pre assembled modules.   The Government's stated objective for this initiative is to spread the opportunities of the mining boom to more Australians and more Australian businesses.