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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

                    ​​​​​​​​​The Small Business Grants Program supports new businesses to get started within the City of Melbourne​ and existing businesses to expand and grow.​

                    Applications for the Small Business Grants Program are closed. View previous grant recipients.​

                    The funding will support small businesses within the City of Melbourne 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 had 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. Read about previous grant recipients.

                    Online information session​

                    For further details about the Small business Grants Program, eligibility and assessment criteria, how to apply and other important information please view the information session recording and presentation documents.

                    ​Key d​ates

                    • Applications opened Tuesday 22 August 2023 at 9am AEST.
                    • Applications close Monday 25 September 2023 at 12pm AEST.
                    • Assessment and approval in October and November 2023.
                    • Successful applicants will be publicly announced after letters of agreement are in place.

                    Information for applicants

                    Are you eligible?

                    ​To be eligible for a Small Business Grants Program you must:

                    • be located within or committed to relocate promptly (within three months of receiving the grant) to the City of Melbourne municipality
                    • have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN)
                    • have less than 20 full-time or equivalent employees at the time of applying
                    • be an Australian registered business, sole trader, company, business cooperative or partnership and provide documented evidence of its legal structure 
                    • be able to provide evidence of appropriate business insurances
                    • have no outstanding acquittals or debts to the City of Melbourne
                    • demonstrate financial viability as evidenced by relevant financial information
                    • **Shopfront occupancy stream ONLY: provide evidence of a commercial lease (for a minimum length of 12 months)​ if relocating to City of Melbourne or moving to a larger premises within City of Melbourne.

                    Key objectives

                    The program for this round are to:

                    • encourage the establishment and growth of small businesses that:
                      • enhance the City of Melbourne’s reputation for business innovation, creativity, diversity, inclusiveness and environmental sustainability
                      • strengthen and diversify the local economy’s resilience by demonstrating a unique point-of-difference, sound business model and long-term financial viability
                      • ​generate employment and investment opportunities
                    • enhance the city’s vitality by increasing the occupancy rate of shopfronts** across the municipality.

                    ** For the purposes of this grant program shopfronts are defined as a street-facing, ground level commercial properties.

                    How to apply

                    Applications open at 9am on Tuesday 22 August and will be available via SmartyGrants after this time. 

                    Download the guidelines and follow the instructions carefully.

                    Applications can only be made online and must be submitted by 12pm (AEDT) on Monday 25 September.

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

                    Provide all information requested in the application form.

                    We do not accept applications sent by email or via post (hard mail). Applications must address the eligibility, assessment criteria, answer all questions and be submitted prior to the program closing date.​

                    What we will 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 delivery of the proposed activity including capital Improvement, website development or enhancements, IT or specialised equipment and other items where its clearly demonstrated there is significant need to set up or expand the 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. Expenditure items incurred prior to the date the business submitted an application. Applications that do not meet the eligibility or assessment criteria.

                    Assessment process

                    Applications are scored against the following criteria: 

                    • business plan, workforce and experience
                    • impact and benefits to the City of Melbourne
                    • financial viability.

                    City of Melbourne completes a due diligence process to all applications to ensure all eligibility criteria are met.

                    Applications are individually assessed by a panel including senior management from City of Melbourne which will consider the diversity of applications as a set.

                    Canvassing or lobbying of Councillors, employees of City of Melbourne or assessment panel members in relation to any funding application is prohibited. No further consideration will be given to an application submitted by an applicant who has canvassed or lobbied City of Melbourne staff, Councillors or assessors in relation to their application. Successful applicants are prohibited to lobby Councillors or City of Melbourne staff when seeking additional benefits in the sponsorship agreement.

                    Additional support

                    Before you apply please ensure you have read the guidelines. 

                    Additional support available to applicants includes:

                    • To discuss the grant opportunity please email businessfunding@melbourne.vic.gov.au​ and one of our team will contact you.
                    • City of Melbourne’s Business Concierge can provide support and advice about starting or growing a small business and potential locations within the Melbourne municipality. Request an appointment by filling out the online form​ or calling 9658 9658 (press 1 for business).
                    • Need support with your financial information? Book a subsidised 1-on-1 session with Small Business Mentoring Service to get helpful advice and guidance on the financial documents you need to provide in your application. A session costs $80 and can be booked online. Just select your preferred mentor and find a suitable time. If asked for a code please enter MCGRA1-23.
                    • We also provide financial templates (XLSX 49 KB)​ available to provide guidance on the type of accurate, up to date financial information required to support your application.

                    Technical assistance

                    Refer to the SmartyGrants help guide for technical assistance related to submitting your application. The SmartyGrants support desk is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday on 03 9320 6888 or by email at service@smartygrants.com.au. ​

                    Interpreter and translation services​

                    If you need an interpreter when calling the City of Melbourne, please call the following relevant translation services: 

                    If you are deaf, hearing-impaired, or speech-impaired, please call us via the National Relay Service:

                    Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 133 677 then ask for 03 9658 9658

                    Speak & Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9658 9658

                    Our multilingual information telephone service offers assistance to people from a non-English speaking background. Visit Translation services.​

                    Contact our Business Concierge Service

                    The City of Melbourne has a dedicated team of Business Concierge case managers to support the Melbourne business community.

                    Request an appointment, or call 9658 9658 (press 1 for business) between 7.30am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

                    Other grants and funding options

                    There are a range of other grants and funding options available to businesses. We recommend you do an online search for new funding opportunities in addition to visiting the following websites:

                    • Business Victoria publishes a comprehensive list of grants, vouchers and assistance programs available to businesses in Victoria from the State government.
                    • Business.gov.au has a grant finder which publishes grants and funding opportunities from all levels of government.

                    Find out more about other grants and sponsorship opportunities.

                    Starting a business

                    If you’re starting a business in Melbourne, there are plenty of networks, resources and support services available to you. 

                    Find information on what's needed to start a business, how to engage with Melbourne startups, access statistics and find business networks and precincts. There is also support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and entrepreneurs.​

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

                    ​Contact us

                    Contact name
                    Business funding team
                    Telephone number
                    03 9658 965803 9658 9658
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