Small business grants

1. Read the guidelines in full to ensure you are eligible.

2. Contact us to discuss your proposal before you make your application.

3. Develop a Project Plan and a Budget for your proposal, including quotes for evidence of costs. Unverified estimates of costs are not considered adequate.

4. Complete the small business grant online application form.

Once submitted, you will receive an automatic email confirmation. If you do not receive an email confirmation, please contact us to check that your application was received.

Background and objectives

The Small Business Grants program has been established to assist with economic development opportunities and investment in the Campbelltown Council (SA) local government area. The Grant is designed to provide support to new and existing businesses and to support growth of the local economy with respect to many areas of economic development including:

• building a more resilient, innovative local economy
• ensuring Campbelltown continues to be a sustainable and liveable City
• unlocking new business opportunities and assisting investment in the City
• creating employment in the City
• helping passionate small businesses realise their dreams
• improving access to local businesses (including disability access improvements)
• enhancing public spaces (especially in commercial and industrial zones)
• delivering events, programs or projects that benefit local businesses and the broader Community
• enhancing the City's reputation for business.

Eligibility

Applications must satisfy the following:

• the business is located within the City’s boundary (or if not, it must be planning to re-locate within the next three months and show a signed tenancy agreement as evidence)
• the business has a registered Australian Business Number
• the business has an appropriate legal business structure
• the business has fewer than 15 employees
• approval has been granted from property owner as relevant
• there is no overdue amounts owing to Council by the business and/or other business you own.

All projects or programs must be completed within 12 months of the funding agreement being signed.

The following are ineligible:

• Employees of the City of Campbelltown
• Government departments or agencies
• Businesses who have received a Council Small Business Grant within the previous 12 months (i.e. businesses with a current Agreement in place that is dated within the last 12 months).

Proposals

The program aims to fund proposals for projects, programs or events that:

• Encourage business innovation
• Build business capacity
• Encourage environmentally-sustainable initiatives
• Contribute to the ease of accessing local businesses (including disability access)
• Connect local businesses (to other businesses and/or organisations)
• Assist in growing the reputation of Campbelltown as a great business location
• Contribute to the growth and development of existing and new industry to the City.

Exclusions

Items not suitable for funding include (but are not limited to):

• General operating costs (e.g. stock, routine tools/equipment, staff, outgoings, re-fit-outs, uniforms etc.)
• Replacement of like-for-like equipment, vehicles, machinery or treatments (e.g. dishwasher, carpet, curtains, computers, cars) unless clearly part of a broader project or business expansion
• Advertising costs, unless part of a broader project or business expansion
• Routine or cyclical maintenance and repairs
• Reduction in rental costs
• Payment of commercial rates
• Payment of building or planning approval costs
• Parking permits
• Security cameras
• Permanent staffing
• Repairs of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where the damage should be covered by insurance
• Training courses, unless part of a broader project or business expansion
• Requests for retrospective funding, where projects have been commenced or are completed prior to funding approval.

Budget

A Budget for the project or program must be provided. This budget should outline the scope of the project/works to be undertaken, with expenditure breakdown and quotes from suppliers.

Any projects or works already commenced or completed are not eligible for grant funding. Projects must not commence until after notification of funding outcomes.

Applications will only be considered if there is a minimum 1 to 1 dollar matching investment by the applicant of the amount requested.

Funds requested for the Small Business Grants may be any value up to $5,000 (ex GST).

Local suppliers

Applicants should consider giving priority to local suppliers for services, production and delivery of their project or program where relevant.

Conditions

1. Businesses are required to co-contribute an equal amount to the funding value sought (i.e. the grant must be matched on a dollar-to-dollar basis). If requested, successful applicants may be required to provide a recent Audited Financial Statement and a copy of a current bank statement to ensure matching funds are available. Businesses may also be required to provide a copy of their current Public Liability Insurance.
2. A formal Grant Agreement is to be signed by Council and successful Applicants to represent all parties’ agreement in relation to the grant provided (e.g. the purpose of the grant, required timeline, activity schedule, payment and reporting), and information contained within it may be used for public reporting purposes for transparency.
3. Grant recipients are required to monitor and report the progress or completion of their project or program as requested by Council.
4. Council reserves the right to use photographs of projects or programs for promotional purposes.
5. Council may contact suppliers and other third parties as part of the assessment and/or audit process at any stage from application through to acquittal.

Assessment

Small Business Grant proposals will be assessed using a risk management approach to identify desired results, risks and their likelihood and consequence. Proposals will be assessed on:

1. Project readiness

1. Capacity to co-contribute funds
2. Plan for delivery of Grant proposal (e.g. Project Plan including clear description of resources available and required, project description, proposed timing – in order to demonstrate sound planning and investment)
   Small Business Grant Project Plan (Template for Guidance)
3. A complete Budget to reflect the proposal (with quotes), clearly showing which components the grant funds would be used towards
4. Pre-lodgement discussion with Council staff (recommended).

Note: Inadequate or insufficient information provision will undervalue an application and impair assessment.

2. Impact

1. Demonstration of how the proposal delivers economic development outcomes in one or more of the following ways:
   1. building a more resilient, innovative local economy
   2. ensuring Campbelltown continues to be a sustainable and liveable City
   3. unlocking new business opportunities/assisting investment in the City
   4. creating employment in the City of Campbelltown
   5. improving access to local businesses
   6. enhancing public spaces (especially in commercial and industrial zones)
   7. delivering events, programs or projects that benefit local businesses and the broader Community
   8. enhancing the City's reputation for business.
2. Environmental sustainability (where relevant)
3. Use of local suppliers (where relevant)

A panel of Council Staff with broad representation across Council departments will assess the applications. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.

All Applicants will be notified in writing as to the outcome of their application.

Acquittal

Successful Applicants are required to acquit their Grant, providing evidence of grant fund expenditure and feedback on the things learnt from the project or program. Grant funds will be released after evidence of expenditure has been provided. Acquittal reporting must be completed at the end of the project or program and returned within 60 days of the completion date as stated on the Grant Agreement.

February 2027 grants

Applications open: Monday 1 February 2027

Applications due: 5 pm, Sunday 28 February 2027

Assessment period: March 2027

Notification to applicants: April 2027

Completion date and payment of grant: to be completed within 12 months from when the funding Agreement is signed. Payment of grants will be made upon completion of the project/program and after evidence of expenditure has been provided.

August 2026 grants

Applications open: Saturday 1 August 2026

Applications due: 5 pm, Monday 31 August 2026

Assessment period: September 2026

Notification to applicants: October 2026

Completion date and payment of grant: to be completed within 12 months from when the funding Agreement is signed. Payment of grants will be made upon completion of the project/program and after evidence of expenditure has been provided.