Deadline: 30-Apr-23
The Merri-bek City Council is seeking applications for its Vacant Shop Grant Program to support businesses and reinvigorate shopping strips.
The Merri-bek Vacant Shop Grant Program provides grants to subsidise rent, setup costs and/or shopfront improvements for entrepreneurs, businesses and creatives that enter a lease for a vacant, ground floor, street-facing space within a shopping strip located in the City of Merri-bek.
Objectives
The objectives of the Vacant Shop Grant Program include:
- Rejuvenating streets with high vacancy rates
- Filling vacant shops
- Encouraging new, innovative and/or home-based businesses to move into a commercial setting
- Activating shopping strips
Funding Information
- A $100,000 has been allocated to this grant program. Applicants may be eligible for a $5,000 or $10,000 grant. This grant program is a competitive process and is limited by the amount of funds available. Applicants are not guaranteed funding.
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The funding is available through two streams:
- $5,000 grant – supports applicants who have signed a short term lease to assist in opening a short-term or pop-up shop (for applications who sign a lease for a period of 3 months and up to 12 months)
- $10,000 grant – supports applicants who have signed a long term lease to assist in opening and operating a retail shop (for applicants who sign a lease of 12 months plus).
What can be funded?
Examples of what can be funded as part of this grant program include, but are not limited to:
- Rent
- Signage
- Site fit out
- External works
- Permits
Only one grant is available per lease, per property.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
- Have a valid ABN.
- Have Public Liability Insurance or be auspiced by an organisation with Public Liability Insurance with a minimum coverage of $10 million.
- Comply with all terms and conditions included in the funding agreement.
Ineligible
To ensure grant funding aligns with Council’s values and vision, there are some things that these grants will not support:
- Businesses or organisations that are political organisations or that have a political purpose, government departments, agencies, foundations or grant making bodies, or those that have a primary focus on fundraising.
- Businesses, organisations or an activity that denigrates, excludes or offends parts of the community.
- Businesses that may negatively impact the health and wellbeing of the community.
- Businesses or organisations that are electronic gaming machine (EGM) venue operators or sports betting companies.
- Applicants that have outstanding acquittals, debts or financial disputes with Merri-bek City Council, that are not being negotiated or have not been approved by Council.
For more information, visit Merri-bek City Council.
For more information, visit https://www.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/my-council/grants-and-awards/business-grants/