Throughout Small Business Month in May, businesses and the wider community are invited to take part in a diverse calendar of activities.
These include free business mentoring sessions, a Meet the Buyer event, the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Luncheon and the Small Business Awards Night.
This focus follows the endorsement of council’s new Small Business Action Plan at the April 22 council meeting, reaffirming council’s commitment to supporting local businesses at every stage of their journey.
Deputy Mayor Cr Karen May said small businesses were the backbone of the local economy.
“Small businesses play a vital role in job creation, innovation and community connection,” Cr May said.
“Small businesses are at the heart of our region – they employ locals, support regional families and contribute to our communities,” she said.
“Small Business Month is an opportunity to recognise their contribution, celebrate their successes and ensure they have access to the support they need to grow and succeed.”
Cr May said the endorsed Small Business Action Plan provides a clear framework for how council will continue to support the sector into the future.
“The Small Business Action Plan reinforces council’s commitment to listening to our business community and delivering practical, targeted support that helps local businesses become more resilient and future focused,” she said.
Council is also shining a spotlight on outstanding local enterprises through its Spotlight on Small Business social media campaign.
As part of the campaign, council’s industry partners have nominated local businesses to highlight their achievements, innovation and contribution to the region.
Each nominated business will have a success story written about their organisation, which will be shared across council and partner online platforms to celebrate and promote their achievements.
“These stories showcase the innovation, diversity and strength of our small business community,” Cr May said.
“By sharing these success stories, we hope to inspire other businesses and highlight the incredible talent we have right here in our region.”
The 2026 Small Business Month theme, “Future Ready”, focuses on helping small and family‑owned businesses build longevity and resilience to achieve long‑term success in an evolving business environment.
More information and a full calendar of Small Business Month events can be found at discovermackay.com.au/smallbusiness or by searching mackayevents.com.aufor individual event details.