Grants are open to forward-thinking small businesses currently located or intending to locate within the City of Melbourne. Start-ups and established businesses from any sector are welcome to apply as long as you have a great idea and a sound business proposal that is going to proceed regardless of grant funding.
Since 1996 the City of Melbourne has provided $8 million worth of grants to over 360 businesses, many of whom have taken their ideas and creativity to the next level and achieved outstanding local and international success.
Applications for 2017
Our next annual round of applications is now open and will close on Monday 7 August.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to read the small business grant guidelines and register to attend a lunchtime workshop session.
Grant categories
- Start-up – Increasing diversity by supporting the establishment of new and creative small businesses. Grants up to $30,000 are available.
- Business expansion – Assisting existing businesses that are expanding into other innovative services or products. Grants up to $30,000 are available.
- Export entry – Encouraging businesses to enter or expand into new overseas markets. Grants up to $10,000 are available per year.
- Business support services – Supporting member-based organisations to deliver new initiatives and tangible benefits to their members. Grants up to $10,000 are available per year.
What do we fund ?
Before submitting a grant application, it is important to understand the types of activities and initiatives we fund and those we do not.
We fund anything to do with capital improvement such as office fit-outs or factory upgrades to website development, IT equipment, and specialised equipment and software.
But we do not fund operational expenses such as motor vehicles, rent, utilities, wages, marketing, sales development, stock purchases, legal costs, networking or personal expenses.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for a City of Melbourne small business grant:
- Your business must be located within the City of Melbourne municipality or you must be planning to re-locate to the municipality within three months of applying for the grant.
- You must have 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
- You must have a registered ABN and an appropriate legal business structure.
- Your proposed product or service must be market-ready.
- Your business proposal must be able to proceed without our grant.
- Your application must be complete and include financial statements or other requested attachments.
Franchisees, subsidiaries of larger companies, unincorporated associations and government departments or agencies are not eligible to apply. Branches of foreign companies not registered as an Australian company are also ineligible. Individuals or organisations providing trade facilitation services are not eligible under the export entry category.
Expert assistance to write your Grant application
Treadstone has been writing grant applications for manufacturers since 2008. We have been successful in a number of categories for the CoM grants in the past. Don’t leave this to the last minute. Get it done properly with our expert grant writers. Call us now on (03) 9008 5937 or contact us.
