MAKING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES STRONG THOUGH SMALL BUSINESS

Making Families and Communities Strong Through Small Business Mara West, Honours Thesis, Murdoch University, 2007Gives family hopeKeeps family in employmentProvided opportunity touse knowledge andexperiencedirection13. Question: How has the business fared financially? Is the business making a profit or are you still relying on grants and loans?CS 1 I’m presently in a position of being able torepay my loans.Despite difficulties withthe government bothDetermination and hardwork provided the abilityCS 2businesses are to continue to repayoperating well through loans.sheer hard work anddeterminationBusiness is not losing money; can paybillsMaking enough money to enable familyto buy assets eg another truck, officeequipment and a four wheel driveHave never relied on grantsPaying off the truck14. Question: Can the business be improved?CS 1I brought a new machine (Luigong excavator)which gives more scope to the work I do egstockpilingBusinesses can expandgiven the right supportCS 2 Business can expand once the truck is paidfor. This will also allow the family to do otherthings eg driver/s can undertake training topursue other interests15. Questions: Have you pursued support to have the improvements realised?CS 1Yes. Approached IBA but their process wastoo long and there were no competent staff toprovide immediate information. Their requestfor paperwork that they already had and thetime taken to approve funding left me with nochoice but to seek funding from the bankwhich was approved in a matter of days. Ipurchased the Luigong excavator.CS 2 Yes. Tried to get support from extendedfamily business (Gumalla)16 Question: If so were the negotiations positive or negative?CS 1CS 2A/AA/AA/AA/APreparedness to workhard and put in longhours.Government supportneeded in all facets ofbusiness developmentand expansion53