CFAs: Business Growth and Impact Grants 2026 (Australia)

Focus Areas: The Grants aim to support businesses to grow or set up in Melbourne, encourage new ideas, products and services, accelerate local or global solutions, promote new ways of working, drive social and environmental benefits for the community, add to the City’s unique and vibrant business offerings, and strengthen Melbourne’s position as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. They align with The Melbourne Advantage – Economic Development Strategy 2030 (EDS), which aims to make Melbourne the top city in the Asia-Pacific for innovation, talent and liveability through its key pillars of cultivating emerging businesses, positioning Melbourne as a leading launchpad for startups and scale-ups in key technology sectors, driving social-impact innovation, enhancing Melbourne’s global profile, and sustaining a vibrant experience economy.

The Business Growth and Impact Grants 2026 provide competitive funding to help passionate and creative businesses bring their market-ready ideas to life and reach new markets. Open to both new and established businesses across industries, the program encourages proposals that contribute to Melbourne’s reputation for innovation, creativity, and sustainability. Applicants are expected to have a solid business plan and the capacity to progress their projects with or without grant funding.

Businesses can apply for one of four distinct funding streams—Start-up, Expansion, Social Impact, and Shopfront Occupancy—depending on their development stage and project goals. The Start-up stream supports early-stage businesses developing unique or globally competitive solutions. The Expansion stream assists established companies launching new products or relocating within the municipality to scale operations. The Social Impact stream focuses on purpose-driven enterprises delivering measurable social or environmental benefits, while the Shopfront Occupancy stream revitalizes long-vacant street-level spaces to enhance Melbourne’s local precincts and vibrancy.

Eligible businesses must operate within or plan to relocate to the City of Melbourne within six months, have fewer than 20 full-time employees, hold a valid ABN, demonstrate financial viability, and provide required insurances and documentation. Funding options range from $10,000 to $50,000, with two pathways: a no co-contribution option for grants up to $25,000 and a co-contribution requirement of 25% for larger grants up to $50,000. The funding cannot be used for general operational expenses, pre-existing costs, or unrelated expenditures.

Applications will be assessed on business innovation, strategic alignment, financial viability, community impact, sector relevance, and overall proposal quality. Specific criteria apply to each stream, focusing on innovation, growth potential, social benefit, or contribution to the city’s street-level economy. Successful applicants will enter a one-year funding agreement, supported by a City of Melbourne case manager, and must report progress and outcomes through key performance measures such as job creation, turnover growth, investment generation, and sustainable development goal delivery.

For more information, visit City of Melbourne.