Time limited interest free loans of up to $3000 are now available for ACT based creative and entrepreneurial women on low incomes. This funding support is designed to enable these women to further develop an existing business or start up a new enterprise.
The funding for this program is provided by the ACT Government through theACT Government through the Office of Women, Community Services Directorate.
The program is administered and delivered by Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre Limited, a Canberra based business accelerator providing access to business skills training, development and mentoring services.
To be eligible for a loan under this program, applicants must hold one or more of the following issued under the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 (Cth) or Veterans Entitlement Act 1986 (Cth):
- Pensioner Concession Card or its equivalent; and/or
- Health Card or its equivalent; and/or
- Low income card or its equivalent and
- Applicants also need to have lived in the ACT for the past three months;
- and/or have a business based in the ACT.
If an applicant does not hold any of the cards listed above, they will be required to satisfy the Centrelink definition of a low income earner, which can be viewed at http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/payments/conc_cards_i.... Please note that Lighthouse will have some discretion in relation to this definition, so we encourage you to contact a client manager if you are unsure whether you meet the criteria.
If you have any questions or would like a loan application, please email enquiries [at] lighthouseinnovation [dot] com [dot] au or phone 6163 8300. You will be able to complete your application online if you choose this option. You will need to register as a member to do this.
