Small Business Grants Program

Project aim

Small Business Grants aims to encourage and attract new, sustainable small businesses that will add value and diversity to the City of Melbourne.

The main objectives of the Small Business Grants Program include:

• encouraging the attraction, establishment, growth and retention of sustainable small businesses and/or business support groups
• increasing the level of exports from the City of Melbourne
• creating employment opportunities

Nature of assistance

Small Business Grants provide financial support to small businesses in the City of Melbourne. Grant applicants are sought twice a year, in March and August.

There are four categories of grants:

• Start-Up designed to assist with the establishment of new and innovative businesses that will increase the diversity of the city’s business community. Grants of up to $30,000 are available
  
• Business Expansion grants of up to $30,000 are available for:
  • an existing City of Melbourne small business introducing a new, innovative activity, product or service or creative business collaboration, or
  • an innovative business relocating to or within the city as part of its business expansion phase
• Business Support Services to help with the delivery of training and development initiatives designed to improve the performance of small businesses located in the municipality
  
• Export Entry grants of up to $10,000 on a $ for $ basis (See entry under Export Assistance)

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must:

• be located, or committed to locate, within the City of Melbourne municipality
• have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be a sole trader, an Australian registered company, business co-operative or partnership

Business support groups such as member-based organisations are eligible to apply under the Business Support Services category.

Contact

Melbourne Business

Tel: (+61 3) 9658 8710
Web: See the Business Melbourne website in More Program information