City of Greater Geelong is offering an extra $659K worth in grants for small businesses
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09.11.2020

City of Greater Geelong is offering an extra $659K worth in grants for small businesses

A welcome boost to the community.

Further financial assistance has been made available for small businesses and community organisations to help support the economy as the Geelong region re-opens.

Aiming to address the urgent and longer-term needs of Greater Geelong’s small business communuity, whose livelihoods have been decimated by the pandemic, a $500,000 Business Recovery Grants program has open to small businesses in Greater Geelong as part of council’s COVID-19 economic and community support measures.

The grants will aim to support businesses that have been adversely impacted by restrictions, help businesses re-establish their operations, enable businesses to adapt to a post-COVID-19 economy,
support innovation and capacity building by encouraging businesses to invest in options such as new technologies, alternative service models and local-business-to-local-business collaboration, and
provide planning application support for businesses wishing to relocate or expand locally.

There are three levels of funding that businesses can apply for and the total grant pool is $500,000. Sole traders and businesses with up to 20 employees can receive a maximum of $5,000, a business with 21-50 employees can receive up to $10,000 and local business and industry incorporated associations that meet the eligibility criteria can get up to $5,000.

Round one of the program opened today, Monday 9 November, and runs until Monday 30 November, with grants of up to $10,000 available. A second round will open on Monday 18 January 2021.

Local businesses can access free professional grant writing assistance and expert help to develop their funding application through the Geelong Business Support program.

Alongside the $500K, community organisations are encouraged to apply for funding from round two of the COVID-19 Quick Response Community Grants, with $159,000 currently available. This program supports eligible groups to activate community spaces and deliver new or existing projects, programs and activities that comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

“Small businesses in Greater Geelong have been significantly affected by the pandemic, which is why the City is committed to generating economic activity and supporting businesses as they get back on their feet,” says Tim Ellis, Acting Director Economy, Investment & Attraction.

“We want to help local businesses invest in their operations, their employees and find innovative ways to recover, adapt and succeed in the future.

“The grants for community organisations will give the community a welcome boost and help the region’s social recovery into the future.”

The grants will remain open until all funds are allocated or until 31 March 2021. Round one, which closed in August, saw 51 grants awarded a total of $90,505.

You can find out more information on grants and apply here.