The Small Business Grants program provides financial assistance to small businesses currently located or intending to locate in the City of Melbourne.
Key objectives
The key objectives of the Small Business Grants program is to:
increase diversity in the city by supporting the establishment of new and creative small businesses- assist existing innovative businesses that are introducing innovative services or products as part of their expansion phase
- encourage and support businesses to enter and expand into new overseas markets (that is, export)
- support member-based organisations within the city.
Am I eligible for a small business grant?
- Are you located within the City of Melbourne boundaries or are you planning to relocate within the municipality?
- Do you have 20 or fewer employees?
- Do you have an Australian Business Number (ABN)?
- Does your proposal enhance the city’s reputation for innovation, business vitality and environmental sustainability?
- Does your proposal demonstrate solid market potential?
- Does your proposal create employment opportunities and increase the level of business investment?
- For exporters, does your proposal increase the overall value and volume of exports from the city?
- For member-based organisations, does your proposal deliver significant tangible outcomes for your members?
- Have you completed a marketing analysis and have you conducted a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis?
- For business expansion or export grants, do you have a complete, up-to-date set of financial statements?
Start-up grants
The start-up grants are designed to assist with the establishment of new and innovative small businesses that will increase the diversity of the city’s business community.
In addition to the general eligibility criteria, applicants in this category must also:
- be able to demonstrate ‘business readiness’ (that is, the product / service is financially viable and supported by a sound and comprehensive business plan)
- be able to commence the proposed business promptly following the approval of the grant.
Grants of up to $30,000 are available. Only one grant will be made to an eligible business.
What can I claim?
The start-up grant supports the following categories of expenditure directly related to establishing a business or as part of a business expansion process:
- the costs associated with improving the façade and fit-out of business premises
- the costs associated with the development or enhancement of a business website
- the costs associated with purchasing IT equipment for the operation of the new business or as part of the business expansion activity
- the costs associated with purchasing specialised equipment / software that is directly related to the operation of the new business or as part of the business expansion activity
- expenditure items that are not listed above but that can be demonstrated as significantly crucial for the start-up / expansion of a specialised business.
- General operational expenses including rent, utilities, training, marketing, networking and staff remuneration are not considered.
How are applications assessed?
Each application will be assessed against the Small business grants objectives and application criteria. An assessment report is prepared for consideration by an external independent review panel (IRP). The IRP will consider the conforming applications on a competitive and merit basis and make recommendations to specific council committee for approval. Applications that offer the most valuable contribution to the achievement of the program objectives will be offered grants.
Preference will be given to:
- a small business that is able to demonstrate ‘business readiness’
- a business that does not duplicate an existing activity / service currently available within the city
- a business that can demonstrate measurable economic contributions to be made on the achievement of the program’s objectives (that is, intended business investment, jobs creation and gross turnover)
- a business in the City of Melbourne’s key target industry sectors.
The City of Melbourne’s key target industry sectors are advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, finance and business services, environment services, creative industries, higher education, information and communication technologies, hospitality and retail.
Application forms will be available online from this date. Applications close at 5.30pm on 12 March 2010.