Small business reactivation grants – program guidelines



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Small business reactivation grants – Program Guidelines

City of Melbourne

Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Program Objectives 3

What we fund 3

Eligibility 3

Who is eligible to apply? 3

Who is not eligible to apply? 4

What we do not fund 4

How to apply 5

Apply online 5

Key dates 5

Application process 5

Application assistance 5

Interpreter and translation services 6

Technical support 6

Assessment process 6

Assessment criteria 6

Outcome notification 6

Payment and Funding Agreement 7

Reporting and acquittal 7

Other considerations 7

Introduction

The City of Melbourne and the Victorian government acknowledge and embrace the role small business plays in building all aspects of a bold, innovative and sustainable city. We recognize small businesses in the City of Melbourne are facing unprecedented challenges during COVID-19. The Victorian Government and City of Melbourne are partnering to deliver a $100 million recovery fund[1] that will reactivate the central city. As part of the plan towards a COVID-safe reopening for Melbourne, the funding will help businesses trade safely once restrictions ease. This is an important and positive step in our journey to regenerate our city’s economy and safely welcome people back.

Program Objectives

The Small business reactivation grants are designed to support businesses to trade safely and help encourage customers back into the central city as we progress towards a COVID-safe reopening. The program supports small businesses impacted by COVID-19 to reactivate through initiatives that will attract people to their business. This includes outdoor dining and support for the transition to COVID-safe operations.

What we fund

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for reactivation costs, including:

temporary outdoor trading activities, including outdoor dining

COVID-safe remodeling and conversions;

COVID-safe equipment and infrastructure including promoting outdoor activity

staff training and development activities to adapt to a COVID-19 operating environment;

marketing and promotion.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants to the City of Melbourne Small business reactivation grants must:

have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN). Noting a business, as defined by its ABN, will be considered eligible for one grant only.

have documented evidence of an appropriate legal structure, such as an Australian registered company, business cooperative or partnership.

provide evidence of current public liability and professional indemnity insurance policies.

employ people, up to 50 FTE employees at the time of application.

be physically located within the City of Melbourne municipal boundary and offer products and services to its customers face-to-face in an office or store that the business owns or rents.

aligns with sustainable business practices in line with the Australian ethical charter[2]

Hold relevant permits to conduct the activity including, but not limited to, Food Certificates and Liquor Licenses and any additional permits:

Extended outdoor dining permit:[3] If you are planning to set up an outdoor dining space, you will need to apply for a free extended outdoor dining permit and ensure the activity is conducted as per the outdoor dining guidelines. Applications open on 1 October 2020, and between 3 and 30 working days' notice is required depending on the scale of your request. Please visit our website[4] for application and contact details.

Event permits:[5] If you are planning for an activation experience using public outdoor spaces managed by City of Melbourne, you may need an event permit. A minimum of 10 working days' notice will be required, and fees may be applicable. For information about public outdoor spaces managed by the City of Melbourne, view the City of Melbourne interactive map[6] contact the Event Operations team on (03) 9658 8008, or via email at events@melbourne..au.

Private space: arrange relevant permission directly with land/building owners if using an alternate space outside your premises that is not a City of Melbourne public space.

Who is not eligible to apply?

The City of Melbourne Small business reactivation grants will not support:

applications that do not meet the eligibility or assessment criteria.

political organisations or businesses that have a political purpose.

government departments of agencies, foundations or grant making bodies.

businesses with a primary focus on fundraising.

businesses with a primary focus on migration and international education services.

organisations with a primarily online business model (pre-COVID) that do not have a "bricks and mortar" business.

organisations that have an outstanding debt to the City of Melbourne, or that have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of any previous funding agreement with City of Melbourne.

current City of Melbourne employees, immediate families and contractors.

any activity that denigrates, excludes or offends parts of the community, is contrary to anti vilification laws, or freedom of speech, or not aligned with Council policies, priorities or values.

If operating from a co-working space, the business must be located in this space at least 50%of the year, and able to provide evidence such as a letter from the co-working space or lease or membership agreement. Casual memberships for co-working spaces, bank statements or mobile bills will not be accepted.

What we do not fund

Funding must be directly related to activities that deliver on the program objectives and requested funding must be directly related to the proposal.

Funding will not be provided for expenditure incurred prior 1 September 2020.

Funding will not be provided to proposals that do not hold the permits required for the activity.

How to apply

Apply online

Applications for grants must be completed online using SmartyGrants. Applications must address the eligibility, assessment criteria, answer all questions and be submitted prior to the program closing date.

Applications will be assessed as they are received to ensure funds are allocated as soon as practicable to support Melbourne’s business community.

Key dates

Applications open – Thursday 1 October 2020 6.00am AEST.

Applications close - Friday 23 October 2020 11.59pm AEST. Applications must be submitted by the due date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted and will be withdrawn from the assessment process.

In the event a high volume of applications are received, the City of Melbourne reserves the right to close the program prior to the scheduled closure date, or extend the application dates until funds are exhausted.

Assessment period - October 2020.

Notification to applicants - October to November 2020.

Application process

1. Register online at SmartyGrants[7] and preview a copy of the application.

2. Plan, research and gather information required for your application.

3. Arrange relevant permits/ permissions

4. Complete and submit your application online via SmartyGrants.

o Complete all questions and upload supporting documents.

o Allow ample time to complete and submit your application before the closing date and time.

5. Submit only one application.

6. On submission, you will receive an electronic reply acknowledging receipt from SmartyGrants. Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or supporting materials will be accepted.

Application assistance

Businesses are encouraged to contact a Council Officer to discuss any specific needs or additional support that may be required to complete and submit an application. Email: businessfunding@melbourne..au

Interpreter and translation services

If you need an interpreter when calling the City of Melbourne, please call the following relevant translation services:

If you are deaf, hearing-impaired, or speech-impaired, please call us via the National Relay Service[8]

Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 133 677 then ask for 03 9658 8710 or 03 9658 8874

Speak & Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9658 8710 or 03 9658 8874

Our multilingual information telephone service offers assistance to people from a non-English speaking background. Visit Translation services.[9]

Technical support

Refer to the SmartyGrants help guide[10] for technical assistance related to submitting your application. The SmartyGrants[11] support desk is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 03 9320 6888 or by email service@.au

Assessment process

Assessment criteria

Applications are assessed on their eligibility and ability to deliver on the program objectives. Eligible applicants are not guaranteed funding. Ineligible applications will be withdrawn from the assessment process.

Canvassing or lobbying of Councillors, employees of the City of Melbourne or assessment panel members in relation to any funding application is prohibited. No further consideration will be given to an application submitted by an applicant who has canvassed or lobbied City of Melbourne staff, Councillors or assessors in relation to their application.

The City of Melbourne reserves the right to request further information in considering any application, as well as the right to reject any application that is ineligible, does not meet the grant category criteria or align with Council’s priorities and values. Applications are confidential, however applicants are advised a short summary of the project concept will be utilised in publicly available reports to Council and shared with the Victorian Government.

Outcome notification

Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of their application outcome in writing. The applicant name, project names and funding amounts of successful applicants will be made publicly available, including publication on Council’s website and media releases. All funding decisions are final. Unsuccessful applicants will not be reimbursed for the time spent on the application process.

Payment and Funding Agreement

Successful applicants must provide details of their nominated bank account in order for City of Melbourne to pay the grant amount directly into the account. Successful applicants are also required to submit an invoice to the Melbourne City Council for the approved funding amount plus GST.

Payment terms are 30 days from the date of invoice, subject to the receipt of a signed funding agreement, tax invoice and other requested information. The funding agreement outlines the application outcome, the items to be funded and any conditions associated with the use of the funds. Payments are not processed before the timeframes stipulated in the funding agreement. The City of Melbourne will not be responsible for shortfalls in project budgets if the grant recipient is unable to meet project costs.

Reporting and acquittal

Recipients must report and acquit the proposal. Reports provide valuable feedback to the Council on the success of the proposal, in relation to the agreed outcomes, performance measures and any lessons learnt. Reports are confidential, however applicants are advised a short summary of the report will be shared with the Victorian Government. Final reports must be submitted no later than two weeks after the agreed completion date of the proposal as stated in the funding agreement unless otherwise agreed.

Other considerations

The City of Melbourne may seek feedback from applicants to help us improve our services and programs.

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[1] $100-million-boost-to-Melbourne’s-reopening.aspx

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