Apply for Business Façade Improvement Grants (Australia)

Program objectives 

• The program aims to support façade improvement projects that help achieve outcomes aligned to the City of Stonnington’s Council Plan and Place-led Economic Development Strategy 2023-27:
  • Identity and destination 
    • Increase visitation: Strengthen the City of Stonnington’s unique identity as a destination of choice, to continue to attract and create advocates of residents, businesses, and visitors.
  • Thriving and desirable businesses 
    • Increase economic activity: Attract industries, anchor tenants and the right mix of businesses for the 20-minute neighbourhoods and align with precinct identities.
  • Pride of place and character 
    • Improve place perceptions: Provide safe, inviting, accessible and well-maintained streetscapes, neighbourhoods and public realm, as defined by the community, to promote pride of place and improved health and wellbeing outcomes.

Funding Information

• A total grant funding pool of $50,000 is available. City of Stonnington will provide matched funding (dollar for dollar) for up to 50 per cent of the total improvement costs up to a maximum of $5000, with the remaining amount to be contributed by the applicant.

Eligibility Criteria 

• The City of Stonnington’s Business Façade Improvement Grants are designed to assist small to medium sized businesses. To be eligible for a Business Façade Improvement Grant of up to $5000, applicants must:
  • be a legally constituted entity or a registered business and have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • have a demonstrated investment in the city including:
    • a signed commercial property lease arrangement within the City of Stonnington extending at least 1 year from the time the application is submitted, and/or
    • ownership of a commercial property located in the City of Stonnington
  • have a total business turnover of less than $2 million in the previous financial year
  • be delivering a project that improves a business façade
  • have a project that will be completed between 1 October 2024 – 30 June 2025 which include ground floor façades if works affect the property
  • Have all appropriate insurances, permits and licenses for the proposed project or can demonstrate that the projects have been discussed with the relevant authorities including but not limited to the City of Stonnington’s Planning, Building, Local Laws and Health departments, and relevant paperwork for these processes have been lodged Have no pending acquittals or debts to the City of Stonnington or have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of any previous funding agreement with the City of Stonnington
  • Submit the application before work begins
  • Have demonstrated financial viability without the City of Stonnington’s funding (e.g. the applicant is able to provide evidence that the business has the cash flow to undertake the project).

Who is not eligible to apply? 

• A Business Façade Improvement Grant will not be awarded to:
  • an applicant who does not meet the eligibility or assessment criteria listed above
  • political organisations or businesses that have a political purpose
  • Government departments or agencies, foundations or grant making bodies
  • an employee or Elected Member of the City of Stonnington or their immediate family. This does not include an application from an organisation that an employee, Elected Member, or their immediate family member may be part of An applicant that the City of Stonnington considers to support, promote or facilitate violence, intolerance, or discrimination
  • an applicant who has outstanding debts to the City of Stonnington
  • an applicant who is in legal conflict with the City of Stonnington
  • an applicant who has failed to provide satisfactory acquittal reporting for any previous City of Stonnington funding
  • an applicant who has already received City of Stonnington funding (including in-kind) for the same project within the same financial year
  • an applicant who has already applied for City of Stonnington funding (including in-kind) for the same project within the same financial year, and been refused
  • an applicant who conducts themselves in a way that the City of Stonnington considers to be injurious or prejudicial to the character or interests of the municipality
  • an applicant with or who has had a major/critical non-compliance order
  • unincorporated associations, branches, large and/or established franchisees or subsidiaries of larger companies.

Ineligible

• The following projects or initiatives are ineligible for a Business Façade Improvement Grant:
  • Internal fit-out works.
  • Advertising and/or marketing campaigns.
  • Structural works for a building that doesn’t align to the objectives of the grant funding.
  • One-off events, temporary or short-term projects.
  • Ongoing operating or general maintenance costs such as staff wages, salaries and remuneration, rent, utilities bills, administration overheads, stock, and personal expenditure.
  • Expenditure incurred prior to the project commencement.
  • Projects that have detrimental environmental impact or produce large quantities of waste .
  • Projects where the primary purpose could be considered political.
  • An application for multi-staged projects where the City of Stonnington has supported a previous stage through City of Stonnington sponsorship and grant funding.
  • Changes to the public realm or public-owned assets.
  • Projects that denigrate or exclude parts of the community or have adverse effects on public health, safety, or any other reason Council deems applicable.

For more information, visit City of Stonnington.