Small Business Friendly Grant Program (Round 2) – Australia

It helps businesses to address specific challenges and opportunities in a strategic area of their choosing, by engaging a consultant and preparing a plan. Applicants can engage a consultant on issues such as HR, Legal, Marketing, Financial, Business Brokerage, Succession Planning, Web Design, or any strategically significant matter of your choosing.

Key Priorities

• Strategic Consulting: Businesses should engage consulting services that are strategic in nature.
• Business Improvement: The project should align with Council’s Economic Development Charter by addressing specific business challenges and opportunities.
• One-Off Projects: The consulting project should be short-term and not be used for any fixed or ongoing operational costs.

Funding Information

• Maximum Council contribution: $2,000 per business.
• Matched funding requirement: The applicant must contribute an equal or greater amount toward the total cost of the consulting project.

Ineligible Expenditure

• The following expenses are ineligible for funding:
  • Staff or employee time spent on the project.
  • Fixed ongoing or operational costs, including employee costs.
  • Non-business personal expenses.
  • Retrospective expenditure.
  • Payment of Council rates, fees, or charges.
  • Items that would otherwise be funded by state or federal government bodies.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for this round of funding, businesses must:
  • Meet all conditions of the Small Business Friendly Grant Policy, not limited to but including:
    • Hold a valid and current ABN;
    • Be based within the Longreach Regional Council Local Government Area;
    • Employ no more than 20 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees;
    • Have no overdue or outstanding payments to Council accrued; and,
    • Have been in operation for at least 6 months before applying.
  • Provide a detailed project proposal for the strategic consulting project, including an explanation of how it will benefit the business. The proposal should detail project deliverables, implementation, and evaluation.
  • Submit a quote from a third-party consultant for the cost of the consulting services. The quote must itemise services and clearly show the estimated costs.

Evaluation Criteria

• Applications will be evaluated by a panel against the following criteria:
  • Strategic Relevance (35%)
    • The project addresses a clear strategic need or opportunity for the business and aligns with the goals of the program.
  • Project Clarity & Feasibility (30%)
    • The proposal outlines specific deliverables, realistic timelines, and a feasible implementation approach.
  • Consultant Suitability (20%)
    • The chosen consultant is independent, qualified, and appropriately experienced. The quote provided is itemised, fair, and clear.
  • Business Readiness and Capability (15%)
    • The applicant demonstrates capacity to co-contribute and implement any recommendations. Business is financially sound and compliant with Council requirements.

Application Requirements

• All applications must consist of:
  • Completed Application Form: Include all business details and relevant supporting documentation.
  • Project Proposal: Outline the consulting project, explaining the need for the consulting services, the expected benefits, and how the consulting will help the business address specific challenges and opportunities. The proposal should detail deliverables, implementation, and evaluation for the project.
  • Third-Party Quote: Provide a formal quote from a qualified consultant that is external to your business. The quote must itemise the services to be provided.
  • Proof of Matching Funds: Demonstrate that the business can meet the required co-contribution for the project.

For more information, visit Longreach Regional Council.