Overview

Grants of $5,000 are available for business associations (including trader groups, business chambers and industry organisations) and local councils to deliver local initiatives for small and family businesses.

The Shop Local Business Fund will support business associations and councils to:

  • promote and celebrate the offerings and achievements of small and family businesses
  • support place-based activations that help increase business activity
  • support small businesses to grow their business capability
  • build the capability of local business associations to support delivery of services to their members.

Successful projects must be completed by 31 March 2027. As part of their application, applicants must provide project dates that fit within this timeframe.

Eligible applicants may apply for one grant of $5,000 under this program.

The Shop Local Business Fund is an initiative funded through the 2026-27 Victorian Budget.

Applications will close at 4pm on 30 September 2026, or earlier if all funds are allocated. Late applications and drafts will not be accepted.

Program guidelines

Shop Local Business Fund - Program Guidelines -WORD (DOCX 404.88 KB) DOCX icon

Shop Local Business Fund - Program Guidelines -PDF (PDF 320.46 KB) PDF icon

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, applicants must hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and meet the following criteria:

  • be a business association that is based in Victoria, operating only within the state or as the Victorian chapter of a national organisation, and:
    • be a not-for-profit member organisation that supports small businesses
    • have the core purpose of acting for its members
    • be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator.

OR

  • be a Victorian local government authority.

Eligible activities & expenses

Eligible projects must benefit small businesses that operate in Victoria. Funding must be spent on eligible activities and expenditure that directly help to deliver the funded project.

Eligible activities may include:

  • business showcase and promotional events, including local business expos, awards and shop local campaigns to build community awareness and trade
  • website and other digital promotional activities to drive trade and boost activation for the relevant business cohort
  • business knowledge development, including through training, short courses, workshops and webinars either in-person and/or online
  • business continuity development, including strategic planning, mental health and wellbeing initiatives and business resilience planning
  • professional development of business associations to better serve their members, through improved governance and strategic planning and delivery training initiatives.

Eligible expenses include:

  • new resource development including digital content development costs
  • expert trainer or speaker engagement, including in-language services.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Click here to read frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How to apply

Applications will close at 4pm on 30 September 2026, or earlier if the funding allocation has been exhausted.

Before you apply, please read all the information on this page, including the Program Guidelines and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

To apply, click the 'Apply now' button and complete the application form. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email to your nominated email address.

Apply now