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                    Small business grants

                    A woman dressed in sports gear, leaping in the air and about to kick a soccer ball

                    ​Image: Ida Sports, 2019 grant recipient
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​Helping passionate, innovative small businesses realise their dreams and reach new markets is the primary aim of our small business grants program.

                    The program provides financial assistance to support market-ready products and services that enhance the City of Melbourne’s reputation for innovation and creativity, and contribute to a thriving, sustainable business culture.

                    Grants are available to forward-thinking small businesses currently located or intending to locate within the City of Melbourne​ twice a year. Start-ups and established businesses from any sector are welcome to apply as long as you have a great idea and a sound business proposal that is going to proceed regardless of grant funding.

                    Contact our Business Concierge Service
                    If your business has been affected by COVID-19, contact us on 9658 9658 (press 1 for business). Available 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday or anytime online.

                    Grants for round one have been awarded to successful businesses. Read about the recipients.

                    We are currently reviewing our small business grants program, and will publish details on our website when finalised.

                    To keep up to date, subscribe to Business in Melbourne.

                    ​Apply

                    Please select the type of grant you want to apply for: 

                    Financial templates

                    A set of financial templates have been developed to assist applicants as part of submitting financial information in their application. Applicants may use their own statements as long as they contain a similar amount of detail.

                    Regardless of the templates used, please provide sufficient assumptions/notes to support the projected financial data.

                    Download financial projections templates:

                    Have your financial statements reviewed by an accountant or by Small Business Mentoring Services prior to submitting your grant application. To access this service, go to Small Business Mentoring Services and enter the code 'MCGRA1-20'. The cost of the session is $80.

                    Technical assistance with application form

                    We use SmartyGrants software for our online application form. For technical assistance with the SmartyGrants system refer to the SmartyGrants help guide for applicants.

                    SmartyGrants advises applicants to preview the application forms using the following supported browsers:

                    • Google Chrome v3.0+ 
                    • Safari v3.0+
                    • Firefox v2.0+
                    • Internet Explorer v8.0+ 

                    Please note Internet Explorer v7.0 is supported with limitations and v6.0 is not supported.

                    Information for applicants

                    Are you eligible?

                    ​To be eligible for a City of Melbourne small business grant:

                    • Your business must be located within the City of Melbourne municipality or you must be planning to re-locate to the municipality within three months of applying for the grant.
                    • You must have less than 20 full-time equivalent employees.
                    • You must have a registered ABN and an appropriate legal business structure.
                    • Your proposed product or service must be market-ready.
                    • Your business proposal must be able to proceed without our grant.
                    • Your application must be complete and include financial statements or other requested attachments.

                    Franchisees, subsidiaries of larger companies, unincorporated associations and government departments or agencies are not eligible to apply. Branches of foreign companies not registered as an Australian company are also ineligible. Individuals or organisations providing trade facilitation services are not eligible under the export entry category.

                    How to apply

                    Download the guidelines to decide which grant category is right for your business and follow the instructions carefully. You can only apply under one grant category per round.

                    Applications can only be made online and must be submitted by the deadline.

                    Use clear, concise language and avoid industry jargon. Spell out acronyms and abbreviations.

                    Financial templates

                    Have your financial statements reviewed by an accountant or by Small Business Mentoring Services prior to submitting your grant application. To access this service, go to Small Business Mentoring Services and enter the code 'MCGRA1-19'. The cost of the session is $80.

                    For more information, phone the business funding team on 03 9658 8710 or email us.

                    Applicants with a disability may contact us to discuss any additional support they need. If you are deaf, hearing-impaired, or speech-impaired, please email or call us via the National Relay Service:

                    • Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 133 677 then ask for 03 9658 8710
                    • Speak & Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9658 8710.

                    What we fund

                    Before submitting a grant application, it is important to understand the types of activities and initiatives we fund and those we do not.

                    We fund expenditure items that are directly related to the proposal. We do not fund operational expenses that are considered as ongoing costs such as rent, utilities, wages and personal expenses. Refer to the guidelines for more details.

                    Grant categories

                    • Development – Increasing diversity by supporting the start-ups not yet generating revenue to test and validate their business proposal. Grants up to $20,000 are available. 
                    • Start-up – Increasing diversity by supporting the establishment of new and creative small businesses. Grants up to $30,000 are available.
                    • Expansion – Assisting existing businesses that are expanding into other innovative services or products. Grants up to $30,000 are available.
                    • Export – Encouraging businesses to enter or expand into new overseas markets. Grants up to $10,000 are available.

                    Assessment

                    Every application is assessed internally and by an independent, external panel. Applications are scored against the following criteria:

                    • Innovation and creativity
                    • Business readiness
                    • Financial viability
                    • Benefits to the City of Melbourne
                    • Ethical and other considerations.

                    All recommendations are then presented to Council for approval. Once approved, each applicant is informed of the outcome and grant recipients are publicly announced.

                    Frequently asked questions

                    Small business grants / Social enterprise grants

                    Am I eligible for a grant?

                    • I have a market-ready product/service that will enhance City of Melbourne‘s reputation
                    • My business is sustainable (minimal adverse impact to social & environment aspects)
                    • I have 20 or less employees
                    • Will create employment opportunities
                    • I have a sustainable business
                    • My business is unique (different from other businesses)
                    • I do not receive funding another City of Melbourne grant, sponsorship or expression of interest program
                    • My business is or will be located in the City of Melbourne - view the municipality boundary

                    How do I apply?

                    ​Applications are online. We do not accept applications sent by email or via post (hard mail).

                    I don’t have a computer. Do I have to apply for a grant online?

                    ​All grant applications must be submitted online. If you do not have a computer, we suggest that you use a computer at a library in order to apply.

                    When can I apply for a grant? Are applications open throughout the year?

                    ​Applications are open twice a year.

                    • First round opens beginning of March and closes end of April
                    • Second round opens beginning of August and closes in September
                    • Exact dates are updated on this page.

                    Required supporting documents

                    You must provide the following documents with your application. It is important that the documents you provide include your business name and address as it appears on the grant application.

                    Supporting documents help grant assessors understand your proposal clearly.

                    • Financial statements and budgets (templates provided)
                    • Business plan and/or marketing plan
                    • Any other additional documents that might enhance your application.

                    ​When will I find out the outcome of my application?

                    The assessment process is extensive; however, we will endeavour to advise you of the outcome as soon as the Council meeting has taken place and all applications have been discussed. Assessment process is as follows:

                    • Due diligence process is undertaken by the Business grants team
                    • External panel assesses applications
                    • Finance team assesses and scores applications
                    • The team prepares the report for Council meeting where all applications will be discussed
                    • Applicants are notified of the outcome.

                    If successful, when will I start receiving funding?

                    ​Once funding agreements have been prepared, and signed by both the applicant and Business Grants Manager, 50 per cent payment of your grant will be made within 30 days.

                    The remaining 50 per cent of your grant payment will be made once you have submitted a 12 month report.

                    How much funding is available?

                    Small Business Grants are classified in three different categories. As such funding is available based on the category your business falls under:

                    • Start Up – New small businesses that will increase the diversity of the city’s business community and boost Melbourne’s capability in diverse business sectors. Can receive up to $30,000.
                    • Expansion – Existing small businesses that are introducing a new, innovative activity, product or service as part of their expansion phase, or existing innovative small businesses relocating to/within the municipality as part of their business expansion process. Can receive up to $30,000.
                    • Export – Existing small businesses wishing to enter into overseas markets for the first time, or businesses with demonstrated export experience to explore export opportunities in a new market or launch a new product/service in an existing market. Can receive up to $10,000.

                    How can I receive alerts when the next round is due to open?

                    ​We will keep you informed of the opening dates of the small business and social enterprise grants if you email businessfunding@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

                    Did you know?
                    Grants information is free so be careful of organisations that charge for grant-related services. Visit the ACCC for more information.

                    ​​Other support​

                    Need some assistance? Businesses located in the City of Melbourne municipality are eligible for a free mentoring session with Small Business Mentoring Service. To request a session contact businessfunding@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

                    ​Contact us

                    Business funding team

                    Phone: 03 9658 9658 (press 1 for Business Concierge)

                    Email: businessfunding@melbourne.vic.gov.au

                    More information
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