Business grants

Initiatives that might be suitable for an Economic Development Grant include:

• Innovative projects that assist local businesses by improving the way they do business 
• Networking or training events for local businesses
• Activations that have a broader benefit to more than one business eg. parklet collaborations, shopfront activations (Please note, these can't just be of benefit to your business.)
• Business collaborations to encourage visitation and engagement
• Local tours or destination marketing initiatives that promote businesses

Economic Development Grants are assessed by a panel on a competitive basis. Firstly, you must meet all eligibility requirements to be considered. The panel members will then score your application against the assessment criteria and these scores will be weighted. It is not guaranteed that all complete applications will be successful due to limited funds being available. 

• Must be a small business, medium business, incorporated association or individual/group under an auspice organisation (see Business Grants Management Practice for definition).
• The principal place of trading or location of the initiative must be within the Town of Victoria Park.
• Your initiative is not recurrent operational funding (see Policy 117 Business Grants for more details). 
• Hold public liability insurance of minimum $10 million.
• Own or have permission to use any intellectual property associated with the initiative.
• Have no outstanding debt to the Town (this does not include payment plans or agreements).
• Have satisfactorily acquitted any grants previously awarded by the Town of Victoria Park.

1. The proposed project, activity or program occurs within, or substantially benefits economic development outcomes within, the Town of Victoria Park local government area

Criteria 1 is worth 20% 

2. The applicant can demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed project, activity or program and their capability to successfully deliver the proposed project, activity or program; and

The proposed project, activity or program is a discrete piece of work and is not, in the opinion of the Town of the Victoria Park, a standard operational expense.

Criteria 2 is worth 20%  

3. The proposed project, activity or program will deliver at least one substantial broad benefit to the local economy, including:

     a) Substantial improvements to the amenity of the public realm that will attract visitors to the area;

     b) Substantial activation of underutilised or vacant spaces that will attract visitors or investment to the area;

     c) Provide a unique and visible retail or service offering that will attract visitors to the Town of Victoria Park;

     d) Foster networking and collaboration between local businesses;

     e) Provide unique, regionally significant promotion, development or investment for the Town of Victoria Park’s local economy; and/or

     f) Foster innovation industries or innovative business practices in the Town of Victoria Park’s local economy. 

Criteria 3 is worth 60%

All three criteria must be satisfied for the application to be considered for assessment, however not all of 3a to 3f need to be satisfied (one is sufficient).

No - some initiatives will provide a broad range of benefits and some will deliver significant outcomes for only one or two. Your application will not be penalised if it does not address all of the benefits. Focus on the ones that have the most relevance to your project goals and outcomes.

Yes - the total cost of your project can be greater than $10,000 however no more than $10,000 (including GST) of the cost can be awarded as an Economic Development Grant. You will need to have alternative funding arrangements (including self-funding) for the balance of the initiative. 

Yes - you will need to provide quotes as part of the application process. The number of quotes required will depend on the value of the items:

• $1,000 or less - one written or two verbal quotes
• $1,001 to $4,999 - three quotes including at least one written quote
• $5,000 or more - three written quotes

The quotes should include the following information:

• Name, location and ABN of supplier;
• Itemised list detailing what will be supplied;
• Price including GST details; and
• URL, if using an online shopping portal. 

Yes. GST should be included on your invoice to the Town when claiming your grant.

Applicants should receive notification of the outcome of an application within nine weeks of the application closing date.

Final determination of grant recipients is through Council 

No- you can only apply for a new initiative that is yet to take place.