Applications for the Business Precinct Program are now closed.
In Years 3 (2023-24) and 4 (2024-25) of the program, up to a maximum of $120,000 for Recognised Associations with 300 or more members is available for EO/administration, business activation and marketing funding for Recognised Associations.
Associations funded under this program need to undertake activities to benefit the trader area on behalf of their members and need to meet the eligibility criteria including:
- submission of Business Precinct Program 2021–25 application
- copies of documentation demonstrating the management and legal structure of the applicant association
- a copy of the association’s financial statements for the previous financial year as per the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Regulations 2023Opens in new tab
- a current register of local business members detailing all individual member details; with a minimum of 25 individual members who have paid a membership in full at a minimum of $50 per annum.
Key dates and application details
Applications for the final year of the Business Precinct Program are now closed.
Annual applications were sent through SmartygrantsOpens in new tab.
Eligibility
Associations applying for recognition within the Business Precinct Program 2021-25 are required to present the following documents by the annual application for funding due date.
- Business Precinct Program 2021-25 application for recognition and funding form.
- Copies of documentation demonstrating the management and legal structure of the applicant association.
- Annual financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Regulations 2023.
- The association’s current register of members demonstrating a minimum of twenty-five individual members who have paid a membership in full at a minimum of $50 per annum.
- The fee structure for members, membership development plan and membership verification documentation.
- An annual and half-year acquittal report demonstrating the undertaking of localised business support initiatives and localised marketing activities as outlined in the association’s application to the Business Precinct Program 2021-25 for the benefit to the associations described precinct- wide area as approved.
The City of Melbourne will only recognise one precinct trader association per consumer relevant precinct strip or geographic area.
$30,000 funding is available on a financial year basis to assist recognised associations with administration costs and the employment of an executive officer or coordinator to deliver services to members such as membership development in the trader area and active communication with all members. The engaged executive officer or coordinator remunerated by the recognised association must be independent of the precinct trader association and member businesses.
Up to $90,000 funding in Years 3 and 4 of the program is available on a financial year basis to assist recognised associations with:
- business development initiatives such as networking functions and business events and seminars
- consumer advertising of the trader area
- marketing and promotion campaigns to benefit their members
- local activations that promote the trader area to visitors and consumers.
SmartyGrants is compatible with current versions of Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera and Internet Explorer (Microsoft Edge). Please note early versions of Internet Explorer are not supported.
We do not recommend completing your application via a tablet or mobile device as there are limitations.
Save the progress of your application regularly. If you leave your computer idle for 30 or more minutes without saving your work, your SmartyGrants session may end (or time-out).
If the system does time-out, SmartyGrants will return you to the login page where you are required to re-enter your username and password to continue using the system. In this instance you may lose any unsaved work. To avoid any inconvenience save your application regularly.
For technical assistance contact SmartyGrants during office hours on 9320 6888 or email service@smartygrants.com.au.
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