The City of Melbourne is bringing back its Small Business Grant Program in 2023-24.
The Small Business Grants Program supports new businesses to get started within the City of Melbourne and existing businesses to expand and grow.
The funding will support small businesses looking to:
- enhance the City of Melbourne’s reputation for innovation, creativity and diversity
- strengthen our local economy’s resilience by demonstrating a unique point-of-difference, sound business model and long-term financial viability
- create employment and investment opportunities.
This round will also have a special focus on small businesses that enhance the city’s vitality by increasing the occupancy rate of shopfronts across the municipality.
City of Melbourne has delivered a Small Business Grants Program annually, since 1998 to support new and expanding businesses in the municipality.
Funding
The program will support applicants with new businesses to the municipality or existing businesses looking to expand or relocate their current offer within the municipality.
There will be two streams available – an Open stream available to any small business operating within the municipality and another specifically for applicants who occupy a vacant ground floor, street-facing commercial shopfront within the municipality.
- Open stream - up to $20,000 per applicant is available to any business that meets the eligibility criteria and program objectives
- Shopfront Occupancy stream – has two options available to businesses that meet the eligibility criteria and program objectives:
- Up to $20,000 per applicant available to occupy a property vacant for two to six months
- Up to $30,000 per applicant available to occupy a property vacant for more than six months.
What we will fund:
- Capital improvement costs associated with fit-out of business premises including, but not
limited to furniture, cabinetry, joinery, partitioning, flooring, shelving, and painting. - Website costs including development or enhancements.
- IT equipment costs including the purchasing of hardware (computers, laptops, printers, servers).
- Specialised equipment and software that is directly related to the operation of the new business or as part of the business expansion activity.
- Other expenditure items not listed above where it can be clearly demonstrated there is a significant need for the set up or expansion of the small business.
What we won’t fund:
- Operational expenses which are ongoing costs to run the business, such as rent, utilities, legal costs, marketing, wages and personal expenses.
- Applications that do not meet the eligibility or assessment criteria.
- Expenditure items incurred prior to the date the business submitted an application.
Applicants are expected to have the majority of their small business’s funding from other sources, in addition to the funding sought through this program.
Additional support and opportunities available
Applicants are strongly encouraged to initiate contact with the City of Melbourne’s Business Concierge to discuss the grant opportunity, potential locations and to get important advice on starting and growing a business in Melbourne.
To request an appointment please fill out the online form and Business Concierge will be in contact to discuss prior to applying.
How to apply?
Applications for grants are completed online using SmartyGrants. Applications must address the eligibility, assessment criteria, answer all questions and submit all required documentation prior to the program closing date.
More information about the grant - PDF https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/small-business-program-guidelines.pdf
