Business Groups Flood Recovery Grants

The objectives for the program are to:

• enable local business recovery, restart, and collaboration
• educate, inform, and empower small businesses
• support small businesses to rebuild capability
• rebuild the resilience of small business owners

To be eligible, a Business Group must:

• represent a membership of Victorian businesses located in local government areas deemed eligible for assistance under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement
• be based in Victoria or be the Victorian chapter of a national organisation
• be a not-for-profit member organisation with the core purpose of acting for its members
• hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator.

Eligible projects and activities may include:

• supporting and encouraging flood-impacted businesses to collaborate on business activities
• reactivation and rebuilding of the local economy in flood-affected areas
• enabling flood-impacted businesses to build capacity and resilience
• business skill development, networking, and resource sharing
• upgrading digital channels to better connect with flood-impacted members
• helping members adapt to a flood-recovery operating environment
• support or advancement of flood-impacted Victorian business communities
• collaboration between tourism organisations or other business groups.

Project activities may be delivered virtually or face-to-face and take any format, including:

• ‘buy local’ campaign or event
• success story networking
• workshops and short courses
• online training and webinars
• employee skill and capability development
• in-language business events
• app licensing or website development
• cyber security scenarios exercise
• jobs summit or business expo.

Eligible expenses include:

• outsourced supplier costs
• new software subscription
• equipment hire
• speaker engagement
• marketing and advertising
• website developer costs.

Eligible expenses do not include:

• capital expenditure
• day-to-day operating costs
• staff wages

1. Impacts and objectives (60%)

The extent to which the project can meet the objectives of the program.

Description – Project details that should be included in the application:

• explain how the project will help reactive flood-impacted small businesses and what benefits businesses will gain
• submission of a detailed plan showing project activities, cost, resourcing, and timing
• identify how many program objectives the project aims to address, and which program objectives are the focus
• show an estimate of how many flood-affected small businesses the project may benefit
• provide a detailed marketing plan that shows tactics, timing, spend and describe how you will maximise reach
• explain if project activities are targeted to one particular type(s) of business, such as industry sector, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, or Aboriginal-owned.

Score – This category is worth 60% of the application score:

• 0-2 poor potential to meet program objectives
• 3-4 low potential to meet program objectives
• 5 may deliver program objectives
• 6-7 will deliver program objectives
• 8-10 strong alignment with program objectives

2. Project Delivery (40%)

The capability and capacity of the applicant to deliver the project.

Description – The below project details should be included in the application:

• briefly cover the number, size, and value of projects your business group has
• successfully delivered
• who are the key people identified to take responsibility for project activities and what is
• their availability
• what opportunities are there to attract added sponsorship funding or in-kind support
• submission of an itemised budget that shows how the grant funding will be used.

Score – This category is worth 40% of the application score:

• 0-2 poor capability and resources identified; no budget breakdown provided
• 3-4 limited resourcing; gaps in planning and budgeting
• 5 adequate resourcing and capability (including budget) to deliver program outcomes
• 6-7 considerable experience and resourcing (including budget) identified to deliver the
• project
• 8-10 strong resourcing and experience (including budget) identified to deliver the project

You should read and understand the guidelines.

You should meet all the eligibility criteria.

You should answer all questions in the application form.

Successful applicants must:

• demonstrate alignment with the program objectives
• address the assessment criteria
• demonstrate core competencies and experience of the Business Group
• demonstrate the issues for local businesses that will be addressed through the funded activities

Successful applications for Acute Impact consideration must:

• demonstrate the direct benefit that will flow to small business communities that have been Severely or Extremely impacted by the Victorian floods

Successful applications to extend or repeat a project funded under the Business Chambers and Trader Groups Program must:

• demonstrate the additional benefit that will be provided for small businesses impacted by the Victorian floods.

Requirements may include:

• project plan
• project budget
• project timeline
• letters of support
• other relevant attachments

Applications are submitted online via the business.vic.gov.au website.

Book a no obligation discovery session with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.