Submissions open for Economic Development Grants Program (Australia)

The Economic Development Grants Program provides support for initiatives that help their local business community and economy to grow.

Funding Information

• Total funding value: $40,000
• Maximum funding value: $10,000.

What are some examples projects and initiatives? 

• Networking or training events for local businesses
• Activations that can have a broader benefit than one business (eg parklet collaborations, shopfront activations)
• Business collaborations to encourage visitation and engagement
• Local tours or destination marketing initiatives that promote businesses
• Innovative projects that assist local businesses by improving the way they do business.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must:
  • hold Public Liability insurance of $10 million;
  • own or hold the appropriate permission to use any intellectual property associated with the proposed project, activity or program;
  • have no outstanding debt to the Town;
  • have satisfactory acquittal of any previous grant;
• Applicants must also be one of the below:
  • a small business or medium business whose principal place of trading is within the Town of Victoria Park Local Government Area;
  • be an Incorporated Association where the proposed project, activity or program is to take place primarily within the Town of Victoria Park Local Government Area; or
  • be an unincorporated association, group or individual with formal support of an auspice organization, where the proposed project, activity or program is to take place primarily within the Town of Victoria Park Local Government Area.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Applications will be deemed in-eligible if:
  • the applicant lobbies the Mayor, Councillors or Town of Victoria Park employees in relation to any grant application;
  • the application is for operational funding such as wages, salaries or administrative overheads.

Assessment Criteria

• The proposed project occurs within or substantially benefits economic development outcomes within the Town of Victoria Park Business (10%):
  • High scores will be awarded to applications that demonstrate that the proposal will generate benefits for multiple businesses and the local economy.
  • Low scores will be awarded to a proposal that will not generate outcomes that benefit local businesses and only assist a single business.
• The applicant can demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed project and their capability to successfully deliver the proposed project, activity or program (30%):
  • High scores will be awarded to applications that have identified critical risks, budget, external approvals and delivery needs and have realistically accounted for these in their timeframes and budget.
  • Providing clear examples that demonstrate experience in delivering similar projects or programs will show judges that the project is likely to be delivered successfully.
• The proposed project will help grow the local economy or business community by delivering at least one of the below outcomes: (60%):
  • Substantial improvements to the amenity of the public realm that will attract visitors to the area;
  • Substantial activation of underutilised or vacant spaces that will attract visitors or investment to the area;
  • Provide a unique and visible retail or service offering that will attract visitors to the Town of Victoria Park;
  • Foster networking and collaboration between local businesses;
  • Provide unique, regionally significant promotion, development or investment for the Town of Victoria Park’s local economy; and/or
  • Foster innovation industries or innovative business practices in the Town of Victoria Park’s local economy.

For more information, visit Town of Victoria Park.