The Small Business Grants Program supports the establishment of new businesses and expansion of existing businesses within the City of Melbourne. Small businesses funded through this program will fuel growth through job creation and bring new solutions and ways of doing business into the city.

This years program is now inviting applications from small businesses that are new to the municipality or existing businesses looking to expand or relocate their current offer within the municipality, to apply for up to $25,000 (ex GST) per application for one of the following streams:

• Open stream: for any small business operating within the municipality that meets the eligibility criteria and program objectives.
• Social enterprise stream: For the purpose of this program, a ‘social enterprise’ is defined as a business that derives most of their income from trade and uses profits to contribute to their social mission. Within this definition, types of applicants may be a certified B Corporation or a for-profit business that meets the Social Traders definition of a social enterprise.
• Circular economy stream:  for a small business that delivers circular outcomes or will implement circular economy solutions to generate circular outcomes. These are products, services or initiatives that avoid, reduce or design out waste.
• Shopfront occupancy stream: for a small business that occupies a ground floor, street-facing commercial shopfront within the municipality that has been vacant for more than four months and meets all other eligibility criteria and program objectives (An additional $5,000 per applicant available when occupying a shopfront in the identified Key Focus Areas)

The City of Melbourne is hosting an information session for businesses to learn about the application process, eligibility and assessment criteria, and have the opportunity to ask questions.