This grant provides up to 60 grants of $20,000 each to Victorian business chambers and trader groups to support locally led initiatives across the state in delivering activities or programs that advance business community participation. This grant funding is on its third round.

Deadlines and Timings

Applications close on 11 September 2022. Initiatives must be conducted between October 2022 and 30 April 2023.

Overview and Grant Amount

This Round Three of the grants program will be giving $20,000 each to about 60 participating business chambers and traders groups with the aim to

• enable local business collaboration
• educate, inform and empower small businesses
• support small businesses to build digital capability
• help members transition into recovery and restart

The grant will be paid in two milestone payments as follows:

• 80% when the grant agreement is executed
• 20% once the project is completed and the final report has been submitted

Recipients of grants under Round One and Two of the 2020 Business Chambers and Trader Groups program are eligible to apply for a grant under Round Three, subject to having performed all obligations under prior grant agreements, including the acquittal of funds and the delivery of any Final Report to the department. Applications to extend or repeat a previously funded initiative must demonstrate appropriate benefits of the new activity.

Eligibility and Criteria

To be eligible to apply for a grant, the business chamber or trader group must:

• be based in Victoria
• be a not-for-profit member organisation with a membership of businesses that operate in Victoria
• service a specific Victorian geographic area (e.g., statewide, region, shopping strip) or specific Victorian multicultural or Aboriginal business communities
• have the core purpose of acting for its members
• hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator or local council
• completed all contractual obligations under prior rounds of the program (if applicable)

Unincorporated organisations and organisations with an ABN registered after 30 June 2021 will be required to have a local council enter into the grant agreement on their behalf.

Eligible Activities

Grant funds must be used by business chambers and trader groups to support their members by undertaking activities that support the program objectives such as:

• supporting and encouraging local business collaboration activities
• business skill development, networking and resource sharing
• upgrading digital channels to better support members
• helping members adapt to a COVID operating environment
• support or advancement of the community

The program of activities may be virtual or face-to-face and take any format, including:

• success story networking
• workshops and short courses
• online training and webinars
• employee skill and capability development
• in language business events
• app licensing or website development
• cyber security scenarios exercise
• digital business expo

Eligible expenses include:

• technology costs
• equipment hire
• speaker engagement
• advertising
• developer costs

Note: Expenses incurred on business as usual operating expenses and staff wages are not considered program expenditure

Interested parties are encouraged to read the program guidelines and FAQs set by the funding grant. Submissions may be lodged through their online portal.

Expert Assistance

Treadstone experts can help you understand government grants and maximise the benefits for your business. We have been helping clients since 2008 and our clients can testify to our proven success record. Working with us means you get the maximum grant with minimum risk and effort. Our expertise includes R&D Tax Incentive registration and tax schedules, Export Grants, Capital Expenditure and Infrastructure Grants.

Get in touch with us and let’s discuss this more in detail.

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