Murwillumbah 23 July 2013. Tweed Shire Council is reaching out to provide more support and recognition for local businesses.

In the first initiative, a new Business Gateway page has been added to Council's website to provide an easy link to all of Council's business-related services.

The Gateway has numerous links to a wide range of information and assistance for business from Federal and State Government, as well as from other sources.

The Gateway has information on business startup incentives, a small business grants finder, planning and development advice, as well as links to the Tweed's Business Chambers.

"This is a very important tool for businesses in the Tweed who want to get information about government services specific to business," Council's Acting Economic Development Coordinator, Mark Tickle, said.

"We're encouraging the local Business Chambers to add a link to Council's Business Gateway page from their websites, to ensure businesses have everything they need at their fingertips," Mr Tickle said.

The page, www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/business/ is a permanent addition to Council's online information and will be updated as new information comes to hand.

Meanwhile, Council has become a Platinum Sponsor of the Business Excellence Awards Tweed Shire (BEATS), which is an initiative of the Combined Tweed Business Chamber.

Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland, said through this annual awards program, BEATS would acknowledge businesses in the Tweed that excel in their nominated industry and exceed customer expectations.

"Council is encouraging and supporting local business through a $5500 financial contribution to the awards, as well as providing the Tweed Heads Civic Centre Auditorium for the gala awards night on 12 October, free of charge," Councillor Longland said.

"The Awards were created in response to feedback the Chamber received through a survey undertaken in Murwillumbah last year, which identified the need to encourage and recognise excellence in customer service.

"There are many businesses in the Tweed who are passionate about what they do and are achieving great things in innovation, productivity and customer service. These Awards are an opportunity for their success stories to be showcased and applauded by the whole community."

To find out more about nominations for the BEATS Awards, go to www.murwillumbahchamber.com.au.