NSW SMALL BUSINESS MONTH TO ASSIST THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES

Thousands of businesses across the state are set to receive a boost after one of the most challenging times in recent history as the NSW Small Business Month launches tomorrow.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government initiative is the fourth annual NSW Small Business Month, which will include hundreds of free and low-cost activities across NSW and provides a chance for businesses to reboot, connect and recover.

"Business communities have faced unprecedented challenges in 2020, with drought, bushfires, floods and now COVID-19," Ms Berejiklian said.

"NSW Small Business Month is an opportunity to celebrate our small business owners, their valuable contributions to our local communities and their resilience. We also want to focus on ways to reboot and look at ways of doing business differently to get ahead."

This year's NSW Small Business Month will build on the success of the past three years by collaborating with 219 local councils and chambers of commerce, as well as over 180 festival partners, across the state.

Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said NSW Small Business Month included a mix of online and face-to-face COVID Safe events providing a chance to connect with other businesses and agencies.

"NSW is home to more than 785,000 small businesses who make a valuable contribution; they make up 97.5 per cent of businesses in NSW and employ more than 41 per cent of the private sector workforce," Mr Tudehope said.

"Up to $640,000 in funding was made available this year with 93 councils and 126 local chambers of commerce receiving grants to host COVID-Safe events."

The events cover a range of innovative and diverse topics including leveraging social media and getting your brand online.