Business news & updates

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Cairns Business Newsletter

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2026

2025

Recent business support initiatives

Meet the Buyer

In May 2026, Meet the Buyer connected Cairns’ small and family-owned businesses directly with major buyers, creating a valuable platform to pitch services, gain insight into procurement priorities, and explore future tender opportunities.

Delivered as part of the Queensland Government’s Cairns Small Business Expo in 2026 during Queensland Small Business Month, the event generated over 220 one-on-one meetings, providing local suppliers direct access to decision-makers.

Council thanks the many local businesses who participated, along with our valued buyers, who included:

Austal Ships Pty Ltd, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Cairns Regional Council – Facilities & Fleet, Cairns Regional Council – Project Management Office, Georgiou Koppen Joint Venture, Hansen Yuncken, James Cook University, Powerlink, QBuild, RoadTek North – Cairns, and Screen Queensland.

Delivered in partnership with the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business, Meet the Buyer continues to strengthen connections between local businesses and major projects across the region.

Indigenous Business Month

In October 2025, we celebrated the Indigenous Small Business Connect Event in Cairns as part of Indigenous Business Month, guided by the theme “Strength through Collaboration.” The day brought together Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses, exhibitors, supporters and agency buyers for meaningful networking and practical conversations about strengthening opportunities for Indigenous businesses. A valued part of the event was Blak Business Yarns, a panel discussion where local Indigenous business leaders shared their experiences and insights. Delivered in partnership with the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism, the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business, Cairns Chamber of Commerce, the Department of State Development, the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Trade, Employment and Training, we celebrated the power of collaboration and Indigenous business leadership across our region.

Renew Cairns

From November 2022 to June 2024, Cairns Regional Council partnered with Renew Australia to enliven Cairns City Centre by transforming empty shopfronts into creative spaces.

Renew Cairns worked with the community and property owners to make vacant properties available for use by creative projects, and provide opportunities for local creative industries to trial their ideas.

Creative participants included projection and music installations, botanical teas and sparkling drinks, an indigenous art gallery, handmade bath and beauty products, bespoke tailoring, leathercrafts, arts collectives. All participants held opening events, workshops or gatherings to bring people into the CBD and benefit surrounding businesses.

Renew Cairns activated thirteen shopfronts and gave opportunities to 29 local makers and creators in spaces and 85 other creatives given opportunities within spaces.

Keep it in Cairns

The 'Keep it in Cairns' campaign is an initiative of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, supported by Cairns Regional Council, to encourage people to stop, think before they buy, and support local businesses. Businesses and local residents are invited to share the message in their shopfronts and through social media to remind people that their buying habits are important.

Your dollars do make a difference to your community – because what goes around comes around. Whether you are buying online, in a store, or engaging someone to perform a service, there is often a local supplier who can help. The Chamber is encouraging everyone to take stock of their buying and contracting practices and make one change every day, if possible, to support their neighbours, local businesses, and local jobs.

Download the checklist to assess how your business is supporting local.
Posters and social media assets are available for download and sharing. Share 'Keep it in Cairns' on Social Media. Tag Keep it in Cairns on Facebook to share your specials, stories, and offers.

Download the image pack here: https://keepitincairns.com.au/