Polished Nail Spa owner Angela Kelehear at the salon’s Heber Street shopfront, which was given a $5,000 Small Business Fund grant in 2025. Photo: Bill Poulos.
Local small businesses have until 11:59pm on Sunday 25 October 2026 to seek up to $5,000 for improvements through Moree Plains Shire Council. Its Small Business Fund is open for the last round of the year, with money for four recipients.
The fund supports businesses in the shire employing up to 20 staff and trading for at least six months. Applicants need an Australian Business Number or Australian Company Number, and the form asks whether they are registered for goods and services tax.
Eligible projects include shopfront signage and painting, websites, advertising, staff training and costs to trial a new business concept. Wages, stock, ordinary operating bills and expenses already incurred are excluded. Businesses with overdue Council rates, fees or charges cannot apply, nor can successful recipients of the previous round.
Mayor Susannah Pearse said Council wanted to support smaller businesses across the shire’s towns and villages. She said the funding could help existing businesses expand or put new ideas into practice.
Council said the fund had provided $78,101.80 to 20 small businesses since its launch in 2023. Separately, its Event Partnership Fund had delivered $69,500 to 15 local events over three years.
In the 2025 round, Polished Nail Spa owner Angela Kelehear received $5,000 towards custom shopfront signage after moving to larger, more prominent premises on Heber Street. Other recipients were DeliciousNESS, which received grant funding for a serving counter to expand a home bakery, and Moree Online News for server upgrades and marketing. 61 Balo received funding for equipment for quarterly markets and events.
Applications can be lodged at https://moreeplainsshirecouncil.snapforms.com.au/form/small-business-fund, with enquiries to Council’s Economic Development Team on (02) 6757 3222.
