Community & Business
4 August, 2025
Business Connect program not funded in state budget
NSW government program closure strips support from state's small businesses
The NSW government has ripped out a vital lifeline for small businesses across the regions by axing funding for the highly successful Business Connect program in its recent budget.
The program, which provides up to eight hours of free advice in areas such as strategic guidance, digital marketing, financial planning and business resilience, has helped almost 6000 regional businesses since October 2023, offering more than 25,000 hours of support.
Support providers - many of whom are also running small businesses - are located across the state and will find themselves without ongoing work generated from the Business Connect program once it closes on September 30.
As government contractors, none are at liberty to speak to the media about the impending closure of the Business Connect program, but it is known that many will be impacted.
In a statement, NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders has said NSW has "seen three budgets and three cruel strikes against the bush".
“Our businesses are the backbone of our country communities, they support local, employ locals, and keep our cities and towns running,” Mr Saunders said.
“We’re talking about shops and services run by mums and dads, family operators, and young entrepreneurs, but instead of helping them succeed, Labor has abandoned them to prioritise its own balance sheet.”
The decision comes as businesses across the mid-north coast and Hunter regions are still struggling to get back on their feet after the devastating May floods.
“People are literally on their knees right now, they are going through their toughest time ever, and to add insult to injury, the Minns government is taking away even more support by axing this program which has helped so many.”
“The premier and the treasurer need to do the right thing and give our regional businesses a fighting chance by urgently reversing this decision.”
