Deadline Date: February 27, 2026
The Business Facade Improvement Program, funded by Swan Hill Rural City Council, is designed to support the local economy by helping businesses with street frontage upgrade their shop fronts and enhance the appeal of commercial and shopping precincts.
This program aims to support businesses with visible street frontage to upgrade their facades, making shopping precincts more attractive and inviting, and enhancing the appeal of CBD streetscapes by providing grants of up to $5,000 to eligible local businesses to improve commercial and shopping precincts.
The program provides funding for a wide range of improvement works including repainting of building facade and windows, installation or upgrade of business signage, renewal of exterior lighting or awning or structure, digital displays, repair or replacements of verandahs, improvements to frontages such as servery windows, bi-fold doors or large windows excluding security screens and doors, cleaning of existing facade and removal of redundant signage or air conditioning units or hoardings, minor repairs, maintenance or reinstatement of missing elements of the facade, and limited permanent interior improvements if visible from the exterior. Funding of up to $5,000 excluding GST is available for eligible businesses, with applicants required to contribute 50% of the cost of improvements.
To be eligible, applicants must have an active Australian Business Number, be located within a commercial or township area of the municipality with street frontage, and be a property owner or tenant with a lease agreement of at least one year with property owner consent where applicable. All proposed works must be approved by Council in line with design guidelines and heritage streetscapes, and applications must include all required information. Projects should be undertaken by local trades or businesses where possible and must be on private property without impacting public assets. Only one grant will be awarded per property and applicants must not be an Australian Charity or Not for Profit, political organisation, current Council employee, contractor, Councillor or immediate family member. Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding, and project works must commence after the program launch date and be completed within six months.
For more information, visit Swan Hill Rural City Council.
