Small business grants

To help small businesses keep afloat through and after Covid-19, we've released $2 million worth of extra funding.

A man standing in front of a locker filled with equipment.

Covid 19 grant

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Applications have now closed

Applications opened: 6 April 2020
Applications closed: 27 April 2020
Council meeting: 18 May 2020
Funds released from: 1 June 2020

We’re currently revising our operational plan in response to Covid-19 pandemic, including allocating the funding to this grants program. Projects can commence from 1 June 2020 and should be completed within 12 months.

About this program

The small business grant will provide direct financial support to local and vulnerable small businesses and arts enterprises to innovate and adapt, foster business continuity and increase business capabilities to strengthen economic recovery in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This grant is available to for-profit organisations, including for-profit arts enterprises, located within the local 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.

Funds are available for any combination of the following types of activities.

Operating model adaptation

Costs associated with adaptation to provide different goods or services, or methods of service delivery including:
- procurement of new packaging and other associated resources
- procurement of specialised services
- purchase or leasing of new equipment and software
- promotional and marketing costs
- investment in other capabilities or resources, as needed.
Online and e-commerce

Costs associated with online and e-commerce activities, including the purchase of hardware, software and services in any of the following areas:
- website design and development
- e-commerce platforms (selling online and receiving payments)
- online content development (web pages, mobile apps, audio and visual media)
- digital marketing and promotion
- online streaming of performances, classes or workshops.
Training and professional development

Costs associated with increasing and enhancing worker capability to operate effectively in an adapted business model. Suitable professional development activities can include, but are not limited to in-house courses delivered by an external provider or other relevant training.

Capital works

Costs associated with capital works used to produce future income, including:
- equipment, such as major catering, processing, production or broadcast equipment
- business fittings, such as retail, studio, wholesale, and hospitality shop fittings
- physical alterations, such as remodelling of premises
- IT and software.
Projects that require a DA will not be supported. Applications will be favourably considered that can demonstrate they:
- procure from local suppliers
- have the capacity to complete their proposed project within 3-6 months.
Applications can contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:
- businesses are able to adapt and sustain business operations and retain staff
- businesses are able to provide much-needed goods and services that are in short supply
- businesses will be better positioned and able to plan for recovery
- business will increase their digital and e-commerce capabilities positioning them for future opportunities
- business operators will develop new skills and knowledge and build resilience
- workers will increase their knowledge and learn new skills to equip them for the future of work
- workers and business operators feel valued and proud of their contribution to their communities at a critical time.
Applications will be assessed against these criteria:
- demonstrated opportunity, need or demand for the business product, service, capabilities or skills to respond to or recover from the current economic climate
- demonstrated capacity and experience to undertake the project
- alignment with the program’s funding priorities and outcomes
- demonstrated reach to the target market and plan for promotion
- understanding of any required approvals that may be required
- demonstrated partnerships or collaboration with other businesses and suppliers
- demonstrated utilisation of other support mechanisms available
- the number of local jobs the activity will directly and indirectly support
- demonstrated strategies to plan for the business to re-open and when trading restrictions cease and leverage City funds
- commitment, capacity and plans to continue the activities for at least 3-6 months.

Funding available

Funding is available in amounts of $10,000 per business.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding an applicant must:
- be a for-profit organisation including for-profit arts enterprises;
- employ 1-19 full time equivalent employees on 1 March 2020 with applications considered from larger organisations in the hospitality and tourism industries;
- have an aggregated turnover of less than $10 million
- be located within the City of Sydney Local Government Area; and
- demonstrate how the grant will help support their business in response to the impact of Covid-19.
Funding is not available for:
- projects that directly contravene the eligibility and ethics framework or existing city policies
- projects or programs that will rely on recurrent future funding from the City of Sydney
- multiple applications from the one applicant
- businesses located outside the City of Sydney local government area
- capital works projects that require a DA
- projects that cannot demonstrate the ability to provide safe working methods, or adherence to relevant government restrictions.

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How to apply

Applications are available online when the grant round is open.

Applicants may be asked to provide the following documentation with their online applications. Please allow enough time for files to upload and aim to submit your application at least an hour before the due time.

Standard supporting documentation:

quotes for equipment or material valued over $1,000
a copy of public liability insurance or quote for public liability insurance which would cover the proposed project to the value of $10 million
if the applicant is a social enterprise or a not-forprofit organisation without charity or deductible gift recipient status, the organisation’s constitution including a statement of purpose and organisation structure
multi-year business plan (required for multi-year cash funding requests)
child protection policy (applicable if the proposed project involves children)
letters of support from any community or local business partners (if relevant)
a list of community members or businesses who will be involved in the proposed project (if relevant)
evidence to demonstrate owner’s consent (if relevant)
a basic site plan for the proposed project (if relevant)
case studies of previous projects (if relevant)
any other documents relevant to the proposed project, such as photographs, minutes from planning meetings and development approvals.

Covid-19 relief grants program guidelinesPDF · 524.44 KB · Last modified 3 September 2020

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Small business grants

Covid 19 grant

Applications have now closed

About this program

Current funding priorities

Operating model adaptation

Online and e-commerce

Training and professional development

Capital works

Expected project outcomes

Assessment criteria

Further reading

Funding available

Eligibility

Eligible for funding

Not eligible for funding

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How to apply