05/05/20 – Sustaining Creative Workers Initiative

Sustaining Creative Workers delivers quick-response funding to professional independent creative practitioners, sole traders, freelancers, collectives and micro-organisations/businesses whose work and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by coronavirus.

It will support creatives, across all creative disciplines, to continue to work in their creative field, adapt to change, research and develop projects, develop their product or skills, and/or connect with new audiences or markets.

The program will be delivered state-wide and in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria and Arts Access Victoria.

Sustaining Creative Workers has four streams:

• Stream 1: First Peoples creatives/artists, micro organisations/businesses from across Victoria with a minimum track record of 5 years in professional public outcomes.
• Stream 2: Metro and Outer Metro Melbourne creatives/artists, micro organisations/businesses with a minimum track record of 5 years in professional public outcomes.
• Stream 3: Deaf and Disabled creatives/artists and arts workers or disability-led micro organisations/businesses from across Victoria.
• Stream 4: Regional Victorian creatives/artists, micro organisations/businesses (with the exception of the groups above) with a minimum track record of 5 years in professional public outcomes. Note – applications for this stream must be submitted through Regional Arts Victoria.
  For Stream 4, applicant’s postcode must reflect their residence or location of the organisation/business in one of the 48 local government area classified as ‘regional’ by the

Victorian State Government. You can find a list of these local government areas here. Please contact Regional Arts Victoria if you are uncertain.
The initiative will support activities including (but are not limited to):

• Planning and adaptation to the newly emerged environmental context
• Research and development
• Products and/or skills development
• Exploration of new ways to engage audiences for existing or new work
• Development/exploration of markets for your creative work

Key Dates:
Round 1
Open: 30 April 2020
Close: 1 June 2020 or until exhausted

Only one application is accepted per applicant over this period.

For terms and conditions and more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/3baEEc1

Guidelines can be found here: https://bit.ly/35vOO5D

30/04/20 – 2020 BRISBANE WOMENS CLUB GRANT

Brisbane Women’s Club (BWC) was founded in 1908 by Margaret Ogg, an extraordinary woman with a passion for improving the lives of Queensland women. Operating continuously for more than 109 years, BWC has always had a strong social justice purpose; it was a key driver and fundraiser for the establishment of the Women’s College at UQ, and actively campaigned for the pension and support for single mothers.

Today, it financially supports a range of organisations, projects and activities aimed at empowering, educating and enabling Queensland women to achieve their potential.

To be eligible for this grant, you must:

• be a charitable organisation that is registered with the ACNC
• have a valid ABN
• the project funds must be spent in Queensland with all grant funds going to help women in Queensland
• funding must be spent by 30 June 2021

Key Dates:

Round 1
Open: Wednesday 15 April 2020
Close: 5pm on Wednesday 13 May 2020
Applicant’s notified: Approx 1 month after closing date

Round 2
Open: Wednesday 19 August 2020
Close: 5pm on Wednesday 16 September 2020
Applicant’s notified: Approx 1 month after closing date

Exclusions

Grants will not be awarded to, or for: individuals; political parties; government entities; commercial sponsorship; religious groups (except for projects that support a non-religious purpose); retrospective requests; debt retirement, budget deficits, endowments or bequest programs; or general fundraising appeals.

For terms and conditions and more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/3dbJO95

29/04/20 – The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program

The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program provides grants of up to $15,000 to community organisations such as libraries, archives, museums, genealogical and historical societies, multicultural and Indigenous groups.

The grants are provided to assist with the preservation of locally owned, but nationally significant collections of materials that are publicly accessible including artefacts, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and audio visual material.

The following information relates to applying for a Community Heritage Grant:

• Applicants should read the Guidelines before submitting an application and will need to refer to these guidelines while completing the application form.
• Applicants may also find it useful to read the latest Assessment Report, which contains general comments and recommendations from the CHG external assessors regarding applications received in the previous grant round.
• A sample Grant Deed, which outlines your obligations if your project is funded, is also available to review.

Key Dates:

Applications close 5pm, Monday 4 May 2020 (AEST)

For terms and conditions and more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2yRpMSk

Guidelines can be found here: https://www.nla.gov.au/chg/guidelines

Source: National Library of Australia

24/04/20 – City of Sydney – Small Business Assistance Grant

The NSW Government has released an additional $2M in extra funding to help small businesses keep afloat through and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Who can apply?

• For-profit organisations, including for-profit arts enterprises, located within our local government area employing between 1 and 19 full-time staff and have an annual turnover of less than $10 million.
• In exceptional circumstances, applications will be considered from larger businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
• Sole traders may be eligible for the quick response grant, cultural sector resilience grant or the creative fellowships grant.

Key Dates:

• Closes Monday 27th April 5pm
• Funds released from: 1 June 2020

Guidelines:

Here is a link to the guidelines: https://bit.ly/2Y2aaFW

What you’ll need to demonstrate

• You’re a for-profit organisation with an ABN.
• You employ between 1 and 19 full time staff, with applications considered from larger businesses in the hospitality and tourism industries under exceptional circumstances.
• Your organisation is located within our area
• How the grant will help support your business.
• The skills and capacity necessary to undertake the project.

For terms and conditions and more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2KxiCoF

21/04/2020 – Victorian Government has launched a $500M Business Support Fund

The Victorian Government has launched the $500 million Business Support Fund to support small businesses in the sectors hit hardest by coronavirus (COVID-19) so they can survive and keep people in work.

The fund is part of the Victorian Government’s $1.7 billion Economic Survival Package which is supporting businesses and workers through the devastating impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Key Dates:
Applications open on Monday 30 March 2020 and close on Monday 1 June 2020.

Eligibility:

Businesses are eligible to apply for a grant through the Fund if they meet the following criteria:

• Have been subject to closure or highly impacted by Restricted Activity Directions issued by the Deputy Chief Health Officer to-date External link (opens in same window); and
• Employ people; and
• Have a turnover of more than $75,000; and
• Have payroll of less than $650,000; and
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and held that ABN at 16 March 2020 (when the State of Emergency External link (opens in same window)was declared); and
• Have been engaged in carrying out the operation of the business in the Australian State of Victoria on 16 March 2020.

For terms and conditions and more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2z73Gv1

20/04/2020 – NSW Small Business COVID-19 Support Grant of up to $10k

To ease the pressure on thousands of small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSW Government has announced a COVID-19 Small Business Support Grant as part of the NSW Government Small Business Support Fund.

This assistance supports the ongoing operations of small businesses highly impacted from COVID-19 pandemic following the NSW Public Health Order of 31 March 2020.

Key Dates:

Applications will be open until 1 June 2020.

Available Funding:

The grant amount is up to $10,000.

Eligibility:

Small business owners and non-profit organisations are eligible for a grant of up to $10,000 if they:

• have between 1-19 employees and an annual turnover of more than $75,000;
• have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2019-20 payroll tax threshold of $900,000;
• have an Australian Business Number as at 1 March 2020, are based in NSW and employ staff as at 1 March 2020;
• are highly impacted by the NSW Government Covid-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 issued on 30 March 2020, defined as a decline in turnover of 75 per cent compared to the equivalent period (of at least two weeks) in 2019; and
• have unavoidable business costs not otherwise the subject of other NSW and Commonwealth Government financial assistance measures.

While non-employing businesses are not eligible for funding through this program, they may seek support through the Commonwealth Government’s Job Seeker Payment Program.

You will be required to show evidence in order to meet the edibility requirements above.

For terms and conditions and more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2XRohOi

14/04/2020 – Landing Pads Program

INNOVATE. ACCELERATE. GO GLOBAL.

The Landing Pads program provides market-ready startups and scaleups the opportunity to land and expand in global innovation hubs including San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, Berlin and Singapore.

What you’ll have access to:

• a 90-day residency in a co-working space meaning you can co-locate with some of the best startups in the world
• a network of investors, mentors and strategic partners
• a community that supports Australian entrepreneurs
• business advice to help grow your business

Who is eligible:

Australian startups that are ready to go global and have:

• Vision – what are your startup’s objectives and how are you going to achieve them?
• Scalability – can you deliver your product or service to 100 or 1 million customers?
• Traction – do you have a proof-of-concept, existing sales and customers, funding, investors and partners?
• Differentiation – how does your offering disrupt its marketplace, and what is your value proposition and vision for growth?
• Market relevance – how would 90 days in a Landing Pad make a difference to your startup?

Here is some more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/3b91mSj

09/04/2020 – Online Safety Grants Program

The aim of this grant is to deliver online safety education to children, young people and their communities, or training to those who work with them. The idea of this grant is to maximise opportunities for all Australians to understand the online safety support available
A total of $9 million will be allocated starting in mid-2020.

Key dates:
5pm AEST Tuesday 21 May 2020

The objectives of the Online Safety Grants Program are to:

• support innovative development, collaboration and implementation of online safety education programs
• ensure children, young people and their communities can access inclusive, citizen-focused online safety education resources
• promote and increase the positive and safe use of digital technologies in at-risk communities, via improvements in service delivery
• contribute to driving diversity and inclusion online
• maximise opportunities for all Australians to understand the online safety support, complaints and referral pathways they can access
• create a culture where safe online behaviours among children and young people become the ‘norm’
• deliver projects that use co-design and evidence-based frameworks as standard practice for delivering online safety education
• embed Safety by Design principles, where appropriate.

Who is eligible:

We are seeking applications from NGOs that can demonstrate an ability to use evidence-based research and best practice in online safety education to develop services, resources and products that provide new solutions for improving online safety.

These can be:

• for use in schools and other places of learning
• designed for parents and carers, communities or support workers
• focused on at-risk communities
• aimed at scaling up new services, resources or products.

Here is some more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2VcD2bI

09/04/2020 – Australian Airline Financial Relief Package

The objective of the program is to assist the domestic airline industry in response to the economic pressures created by the impact of COVID-19 by reducing operational cost pressures to improve the ability of airlines to maintain services.

The Government has committed up to $715 million financial assistance to ease the costs and charges of operating domestic commercial air services from 1 February to 30 September 2020.

Key dates:

01 February – 30 September 2020

Who is eligible:

To be eligible you must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of GST
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• be one of the following entity types:
  • a company incorporated in Australia
  • a company incorporated by guarantee
  • an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
  • a partnership
  • a joint application
  • a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
  • an individual
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

The package will see the government waive fees including aviation fuel excise, air services charges on domestic airline operations and domestic and regional aviation security charges.

There is a long list of eligibility requirements, for more information about this grant, click on this link: https://bit.ly/2UVX4YZ

07/04/2020 – Energy Efficient Communities Program – Community Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants 2020

The Energy Efficient Communities Program – Community Energy Efficiency and Solar Grants 2020 providing community groups with grants up to $12,500 for energy efficient equipment, energy generation and storage systems, and energy audits.

What do you get?

Grants from $1,000 to $12,500

Who is this for?

This grant opportunity is for incorporated not-for-profit organisations.

Closing Date

5.00PM Australian Eastern Standard Time on 18 May 2020

Who is eligible?

To be eligible you must:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)
• be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation

You’re also eligible if you’re a rural fire service, country fire authority or other state/territory equivalent.

Here is some more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2UPV6t7

02/04/2020 – NSW Small Business Grants of up to $10,000

Small businesses impacted by Covid-19 shutdowns will receive grants of up to $10,000 under a new assistance scheme announced by the NSW Government on 02 April 2020.

The State Government will add $750 million into the Small Business Support Fund as part of a third wave of stimulus measures.

The grants will go to small businesses like restaurants, venues, gyms and bars that have been forced to shut because of social distancing measures imposed by the Federal Government.

Key dates:
Applications will close 1 June 2020.

Who is eligible:

Eligible business are those that:

• Have between 1-19 employees and a turnover of more than $75,000
• A payroll below the NSW Government 2019-20 payroll tax threshold of $900,000
• Have an Australian Business Number as at 1 March 2020, be based in NSW and employ staff as at 1 March 2020
• Must be highly impacted by the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 issued on 30 March 2020
• Use the funding for unavoidable business costs such as utilities, overheads, legal costs and financial advice
• Your business must be able to provide appropriate documentation upon application.

Here is some more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2JJmgve

01/04/2020 – New Grant Open – Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) Scheme

Export Market Development Grants (EMDG)

The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme is a key Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters. Administered by Austrade, the scheme supports a wide range of industries.

Increase in funding

On 1 April 2020, the Federal Government announced an increase in funding for the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme. Funding for the scheme will increase by $49.8 million in the 2019-20 financial year, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world.

This supplements the additional $60 million already committed by the Government, and brings EMDG funding to its highest level in more than 20 years at $207.7 million for the 2019-20 financial year.

Who is eligible:

Any Australian individual, partnership, company, association, co-operative, statutory corporation or trust that has carried on export promotion activities can apply for the grant.

To be eligible, the business must have:

• income of not more than $50 million in the grant year
• incurred at least $15,000 of eligible expenses under the scheme (first-time applicants can combine two years expenses)
• principal status for the export business (some exceptions apply, such as non-profit export-focused industry bodies).

The business also must have promoted one of the following:

• the export of goods or most services
• inbound tourism
• the export of intellectual property and know-how
• conferences and events held in Australia

Here is some more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2UqXkik

New grant open Moreton Bay Regional Council

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Moreton Bay Regional Council has launched our $5 million grants program to help Moreton Bay community organisations respond to and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

The aim of the Community Infrastructure Revitalisation Grant is to help community organisations undertake facility maintenance and renewal projects to existing facilities. It will provide stimulus to the local economy by targeting local suppliers. Up to $50k funding available, applications will close 27 April.

Community Organisations Hardship and Assistance Grant will help provide financial assistance to those organisations experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Up to $10k funding available.

Key dates:

Applications will close 27 April.

Who is eligible:

Community organisations that:
• Based in the Moreton Bay Region and/or can demonstrate that the proposed project will substantially benefit residents of the Moreton Bay Region;
• Have $20 million public liability insurance, if required by Council.

The following are ineligible organisation types:
• For-profit organisations;
• Government departments and agencies;
• Political groups; and
• Unincorporated community groups.

Individuals are not eligible to apply for funding under this grant.

Here is some more information on this grant: https://bit.ly/2UqXkik

New Grant – Market Diversification and Resilience Grants (MDRG) program

If your business is impacted by COVID-19, you may be eligible for a grant up to $50,000.

Key Queensland industries to benefit agriculture, food and fishing exporters and their critical supply chain partners.

The grant will help industry organisations working with exporters to build resilience by diversifying into new markets (international or interstate).

2 Focus areas:

• Equipment Purchases
• Projects

Key dates:

Equipment requests – Ongoing so get in early

Projects requests:

• Open Thursday 12 March 2020
• Closes Monday 20 April 2020
• Notified – Friday 1 May 2020

Here is some more information on this grant:  https://bit.ly/2wcqyYU

Digital Grant Opens in Queensland

The digital technology or service must fall under one of four identified priority areas:

• Content development (web pages, mobile apps, visual and audio media etc.)
• Receiving payments or selling online
• Specialised digital technology or software (business specific)
• Digital planning, digital marketing strategy development, and digital training

To be eligible the business must have:

• Fewer than 20 employees
• ABN & be registered for GST
• Have QLD headquarters
• Turnover of $2M or less
• Not be insolvent

Details Digital Grant Queensland Opens 11 November 2019

The Small Business Entrepreneur  Grants Program in Queensland  opens 11 November 2019 and close 10 December 2019.

Do you want to undertake digital planning and improve your digital capabilities to make your business more competitive in 2020?

You, could access the following services and get help with funding for:

• Purchase software
• Services (Digital Coaching)
• receiving payments or selling online
• digital planning, digital marketing strategy development, and digital training
• specialised digital technology and/or business specific software
• content development (web pages, mobile apps, visual and audio media etc.)

A grant up to $10,000 (matched by participants) is available to help small businesses purchase of hardware, software and services (such as digital coaching). The minimum grant funding is $1,000. The business must show how the digital technology or service purchased and adopted will enhance the digital capabilities of their business and help them to be more competitive and employ more staff.

To be eligible the business must:

• Have turnover of $2 million or less in last Financial year
• Have fewer than 20 employees
• Have an ABN and registered for GST
• Have a QLD HQ
• Not be insolvent

Improve your digital capabilities?

Small Business Digital Grant

The project must show: –

1. how it will significantly enhance the digital capabilities of the business
2. how they will impact on the growth of the business (be more competitive and employ more staff). Note your expected growth must be realistic and probable. You may be asked to provide evidence in this regard.

The digital technology or service must fall under one of four identified priority areas:

1. Receiving payments or selling online
2. Digital planning, digital marketing strategy development, and digital training
3. Specialised digital technology and/or business specific software
4. Content development (web pages, mobile apps, visual and audio media etc.)

What won’t be funded?

• Projects with a total cost less than $2 000 will not be funded, as the minimum grant funding amount that can be provided is $1 000
• Travel costs for any party
• Services delivered in-kind (funding will only cover services paid for via a financial transaction)
• Fees for services provided by related parties (such as companies with common shareholdings or directorship with the applicant, and employees or immediate family of the applicant)
• Franchise fees or related costs
• Direct-selling businesses (where sales of another business’ goods or services are made in the customer’s home, work or other meeting place through methods such as party plan and network marketing)
• Maintenance of existing digital technologies
• Website hosting as a stand-alone cost. Website hosting will be covered up to 12 months if it is part of a new website build or upgrade, but it is not eligible as a stand-alone cost
• Purchase of non-project related assets such as stock
• Salaries
• General business operating costs (including bookkeeping/accounting and tax returns)
• Paid advertising campaigns e.g. Google AdWords, Facebook advertising or similar expenses. The grant can cover the development of an online marketing plan but not the actual advertising cost
• Retrospective payments for expenses incurred prior to grant funding approval date or work already undertaken.

Do you have the right digital partner?

• Having the correctly structurally quote with the right criteria is key
• Ensure they meet the criteria
• The application must include:
  • a detailed quote for the digital technology or service for which you are seeking
  • funding
  • a clear outline of how the digital technology or service will enhance the digital
  • capabilities of the business and make the business more competitive
  • details of the impact the digital technology or service will have on the business, for
  • example revenue growth, cost savings, time savings, employment outcomes
  • a declaration of employee head count
  • confirmation and breakdown of your matched financial contribution.
• If you will be using a consultant to deliver a service, a project proposal and quote from the consultant must be submitted with your application and should include:
  • the services the consultant will provide, including a breakdown of key activities
  • delivery timeframes – up to three months (proposals over three months will not be funded)
  • consultant/service delivery costs
  • the names of the key people who will undertake the project work.