Business and Trader Group-Led Recovery Grant Round 2

Who can apply?

Business and Trader Groups (B&TGs) are eligible for funding if they:

• Are an organization founded by and led by business owners and operators who represent the broad collective interests of the business community.

• Are a not for profit, business and traders only membership-based organisation  that services a specific geographic area (e.g., business zone, suburb/town, or region) 

• Are based in Yarra Ranges

• Have the core purpose of acting for its members and promoting commerce in a specific geographic area within Yarra Ranges Local Government Area

• Are incorporated, hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN), or be auspiced by an incorporated community organisation that holds an ABN and can show letter of support.

• Do not already have an established partnership agreement with Council for the delivery of economic and tourism outcomes.

• Are applying for grant funding that is for a totally separate project, not linked or related to any other, already YRC funded, or to be funded, projects.

• Have demonstrated support for their proposed project from the majority of the B&TG membership, or in the case of an informal group, by the majority of the traders in that geographical area and can provide evidence of such project specific majority support.

• Have suitable public liability insurance coverage for the duration of the project. If the B&TG does not have public liability insurance at the time of application, a funding condition will be added that they must provide evidence of insurance cover before the grant is paid. Where the application for funding is to be auspiced, evidence that the insurance cover specifically covers the activities of the formal or informal B&TG is to be provided.

• Follow Victorian Child Safe Standards for applications proposing to hold public events. 

https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/new-child-safe-standards-now-apply/

https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/the-11-child-safe-standards/

To be eligible to receive a funding under Round 2 of the Business and Trader Group Led Recovery Grant applicants must :

• Comply with eligibility criteria as described above.
• Discuss their project idea/s with Project Manager Business and Traders Group Coordination before submitting their application.
• Have satisfactorily acquitted all due forms relating to prior grant/s received from Yarra Ranges Council
• Not be Community Groups including schools and community organisations who are excluded from applying for this funding.

Eligible Project categories for funding include:

• Upgrading B&TGs’ digital channels to better support members
• Supporting and encouraging local business collaboration activities which help members raise the levels of robustness of their businesses and supports the sustainability of the B&TG through increased membership.
• Events (business related) e.g., local expos, network events, keynote speakers
• Business zone, town or region promotion via social media marketing and “Buy Local” Campaigns
• Township activation/regeneration inc. festivals, markets, promotional events
• Small infrastructure projects to enhance the local shopping strip e.g. signage
• Local marketing and materials for shop local campaigns
• Upskilling members (e.g., business coach) – Professional and Governance Development opportunities
• Other projects that are aligned with the program objectives 

Applications will be ineligible if funding is intended for:

• A program that is the responsibility of State or Federal Governments
• Activities that take place outside Yarra Ranges
• New building, capital works or facility maintenance works
• Ongoing staff salaries or administration cost
• Retrospective funding of projects. Applicants need to submit their application before the event or activity occurs. Please note that the activity or event must not take place prior to grant round closing or the assessment timeline.
• Subsidising ongoing or regular use of Council’s halls or facilities

Funding availability

• Funding of up to $15k per B&TG per round.
• Subject to above, funding could be applied to more than one project category under the initiative, and YRC reserves the right to determine the allocation of the grant value.
• Funding for projects that are for the sole purpose of purchasing Equipment and Materials will be capped at $5000.
• The value of the grant to an eligible B&TG will be determined as part of the assessment process.

Round 2 Grants will be allocated via a single-stage grant process:

B&TGs are invited to lodge an application HERE  before or by 3pm 8th of May 2023

Where more than one project category is presented for funding, the total value of all projects will be limited to the maximum Round 2 funding per B&TG i.e. $15000.

The funding program will be managed using the SmartyGrants Platform which means applicants will need to register to create a SmartyGrants account to enable them to save and return to their applications. Instructions for using SmartyGrants can also be found on the SmartyGrants website

Applicants will be required to provide the following information in their application for funding:

• An ABN for your organisation, or if unincorporated the ABN of an auspicing organisation. Auspiced organisations must provide a letter of support from their auspicing organisation.
• A description of the project and or projects to be funded.
• The background and history to the request for funding
• A description of why the project needs YRC financial support to proceed.
• A time frame for the project
• A description of  how the project supports the objectives of the program.
• Evidence of majority B&TG members’ support e.g., minutes/survey/letters/other.
• Evidence of your capacity to deliver the project, including measurement of project outcomes.

• Provide evidence that the core purpose of the project promotes commerce in a specific geographic area within Yarra Ranges Local Government Area

All questions in the application need to be completed to ensure timely assessment and grant payment. Incomplete applications will be referred back for clarity and additional information, however as this may cause considerable delay, please ensure applications are completed fully prior to submitting. It is a condition of eligibility that you discuss your project/s with the Project Manager: Business and Traders Group Coordination, before submitting the application. You may contact us via business@yarraranges.vic.gov.au with any further enquiries.

Assessment Process

An assessment panel will assess all applications including Business and Marketing Plans against the following assessment criteria:

1. How well the project supports the objectives of the program
2. How well the project supports the applicant’s members through economic recovery and adaptation.  
3. How well the project supports long-term resilience building to prepare businesses for future shocks.
4. The capacity or capability of the applicant to successfully implement the project.
5. Why the project needs YRC support to proceed.

The recommended grant amount will be determined by the Assessment Panel and may take into consideration factors such as membership size, the strategic importance of the organisation to the local economy, the scale and complexity of the proposal, the financial capacity and delivery capability and the services already provided by the organisation to member businesses.

Conditions of Funding 

1. Applicants must enter into a grant agreement with the YRC (which may be in the form of online terms and conditions which must be agreed by the applicant). The grant agreement outlines the commitments and obligations under the grant, as well as the general funding terms and conditions.
2. Grant funds will be released when the grant agreement has been entered into.
3. Successful applicants will be required to report on the outcomes of their project and contribute information and data about the funded project to the YRC for the evaluation of the program. For example, in the case of events there would be additional  requirements to provide a breakdown of timeframe, participants, demographics of attendees, method of counting (estimate/actual), etc.
4. Successful applicants will be required to deliver the project and report on the outcomes in full by 30 June 2024
5. Applicants will be subject to audit by the YRC or its representatives and will be required to produce supporting evidence at the request of the YRC for a period of four years after the grant has been provided.
6. If any information in the application is found to be false or misleading, or grants are not applied for the purposes of the program in accordance with the terms of funding as set out in these guidelines, application and the grant agreement, the grant will be repayable on demand.
7. Applicants must commit to obtaining all necessary permits related to the funded activity, particularly for events and installations  as well as  follow Victorian Child Safe Standards for applications proposing to hold public events.

Acknowledgement

Successful applicants must acknowledge YRC support of the project through, for instance, activity-related publications, media releases and promotional material as outlined in their grant agreement.

Privacy and Information Management

Yarra Ranges Council (Council) is committed to protecting your privacy.  In compliance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) Council will use the Personal Information (name, address, phone number, email) collected in this form for the primary purpose of processing your grant application.  Information is held securely and used solely by Council for this specific purpose and/or a limited directly related purpose and will not be otherwise disclosed without your consent or as required or permitted by law.  Your personal information is only accessed by authorised persons and may be stored in Yarra Ranges Council records management database, used for statistical research, information provision, promotion, or evaluation of Council’s grant programs.   If your application is incomplete, Council will not be able to process your grant application.

By submitting an application you consent to Yarra Ranges Council publishing the Group/Individual name, project description and amount funded on Council’s public website.

You may access your privacy information by contacting the Grants Team on 1300 368 333 or grants@yarraranges.vic.gov.au.   For more information, see Council’s Privacy Policy.