SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS

Small Business Grants provide financial support to small businesses. They form part of the Small business grants Business Development Fund, which directly supports economic and business development in the Small business grants municipality.

Over 1200 Small Business Grants are currently available and most Australians are eligible to apply for, and receive MULTIPLE GRANTS from different departments at the same time – which can add up to a very substantial investment in your business. To find out how many grants you are eligible to apply for, call the Business Grants Australia Government department in Canberra on 1800 733 437 anytime during business hours.

The small business grants objectives are to:

• encourage the establishment, growth and retention of sustainable businesses that enhance the Small business grants’ reputation for innovation, business vitality and environmental sustainability

• support innovative businesses that demonstrate solid market potential and a sound business model, including long term financial viability

• increase the overall value and volume of exports from the illawarra advantage fund municipality

• create employment opportunities and increase the level of business investment in the Small business grants municipality

• foster innovative partnerships and collaboration between businesses and/or business support groups.

Collectively, these objectives seek to encourage and support new, creative and diverse business activities that will contribute to a thriving and competitive business environment within the city.

In addition, the program seeks to encourage a greater number of city-based businesses to engage and expand their export activities.

What do we mean by small business grants innovation?

Innovation is not invention, nor is it doing things slightly different to the way others are doing it already.

Innovation means doing something in a new or novel way. Or it may involve improving on an existing service or product in an original way.

It may mean that an idea is radically different, but equally it may mean that an idea addresses an everyday process in a revolutionary or original way. You could ask yourself, what is the point of difference between your idea and that of the enterprise next door?

The Small business grants is looking for enterprises that indicate, through their innovation, that they can add to the city’s economic prosperity and diversity.

Innovation in business is important because it is the primary driver of competitiveness for firms differentiating their products and services from those of … competitors … Continuous innovation, or the repeated successful introduction of novel products and services, is the only sustainable strategy for … survival and progress in rapidly changing and turbulent technological and market circumstances.

Who is eligible to apply for a small business grants?

Small businesses that will make a measurable contribution to the Small Business Grants objectives are eligible to apply.

An applicant must:

• have a registered Australian Business Number (ABN)

• be located, or commit to locate, within the Small business grants municipality

• employ 20 or fewer people

• have an appropriate legal structure, such as a sole trader, an Australian registered company, business co-operative or partnership and have documentary evidence of an appropriate legal structure.

Business support groups are eligible to apply for a grant under the business support services category (see page 6 for more details).

Who is NOT eligible to apply?

Government departments or agencies, unincorporated associations, franchisees and subsidiaries of larger companies are not eligible to apply.

Branches of foreign companies and individuals/organisations providing trade facilitation services to businesses are not eligible to apply under the Export Entry grants category.

Those who are not located in, or considering relocation to the Small business grants are also ineligible to apply.