Guidelines and Application Form

Applications for the Smart City Business Grants #1 have now closed. For enquiries relating to your application, please speak​ Council's Economic Development Team on 9707 9755 or email business@cbcity.nsw.gov.au​​

If you have been approved or have applied for any other Canterbury Bankstown City Council grant, in response to the Covid-19 crisis, you are not eligible to apply for this grant.​

Objectives​

We recognise that sales, attraction of customers, and cash flow management will be a pressing issue for small businesses in the coming weeks and months, as people practice social distancing and some businesses having to suspend operation. In order to deliver additional direct support to businesses, Council has allocated a total pool of $250,000 which will be distributed as grants to assist businesses to develop and/or improve their e-commerce capabilities and online marketing. These Smart City Smart Business Grants are being made available through a streamlined application process and will offer dollar for dollar funding up to a maximum of $2,000, to businesses with a turnover below $5M. Activities supported will include developing an online market place, social media marketing, and website development.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Must not be a start-up,
• Must be adversely affected by Covid-19,
• Be a 'for-profit' small business, registered for GST,
• have an ABN registered in Canterbury Bankstown,
• conduct more than 50% of their trade from within the Canterbury Bankstown Local Government Area,
• have an annual turnover between $75,000 and $5M​,
• be able to complete their project / activity before 31 December 2020,
• declare that your company has not applied for another grant, neither are you an owner, director, shareholder, partner or associate, of another company which has made an application for this grant, and;​
• Supplier must:
• be based in Australia and quote in AUD, 
• have an ABN and it must be stated on their quote, 
• supply you with a quote and not a tax invoice for your application, 
• a suppler who is registered for GST and states this on their quote provided to you,
• a supplier who provides you with a clear description of the activity you are engaging them for. The review panel will not accept general quotes that only state 'website development',
• a true third-party supplier to you and your business, with no contra deals and no commercial relationship in place.​ ​

What can / cannot be applied for?

Can: up to $2,000 on a dollar for dollar basis for activities undertaken by your business to develop and/or improve your e-commerce capabilities and online marketing. This could include, but will not be limited to:

• developing a new website,
• improving an existing website,
• developing an online catalogue or sales capability,
• purchase of specific and dedicated software (not hardware) to improve your online capability,
• undertaking paid online and social media advertising, and;
• develop an online ordering system and/or service for your product or services.

Cannot: activities it does not support include, but will not be limited to:

• core daily and ongoing operational activities and the payment of already salaried staff,
• activities that have already been undertaken and paid for,
• activities related to the sale or promotion of religious and political activities, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, pornography, and any illegal activity,
• any activity where there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest, it is not in the public's interest, or if it is not in accordance with Council policies and procedures.

Application process

Applications must be made by completing the form below.

You must attach a third-party quote/s for the activity or project.

You must attach a copy of your most recent Annual Profit and Loss, and Balance Sheet statements.

Applications are limited to one per company. Where different companies apply but have the same owner/s, director/s, shareholder/s, partner/s or associates, applications will be limited to just one of those companies. ​

Application Assessment

• Canterbury Bankstown City Council aims to assess and make a decision on each application within 5 business days of the application being received.
• We may contact you if we require further information.
• A decision on your application will be formally communicated to you in writing.
• You should not begin the proposed activity until you have received written acceptance of your application, as we will be unable to pay the grant in such circumstances.
• Where we are unable to approve your application, we will provide an explanation for this in writing or review your application with you to give you every opportunity to be successful.

Payment of Grant​

Dollar for dollar funding means the grant will provide you with 50% of the invoiced cost. For example, if your e-commerce capabilities and/or online marketing is quoted at $1,500 the grant will cover $750. The grant is capped at $2,000. You would pay for the full cost of the activity yourself first, and then you would submit evidence of payment and evidence that you have completed the activity to Council. Following this, Council will reimburse you.

Grant payments of up to $2,000 (dollar for dollar), that is aligned to a previously agreed approval, will be processed within 14 days on production of a receipt showing payment against agreed activities has already been made.

Enquiries

To discuss your proposed activity or if require assistance with your application, please speak​ Council's Economic Development Team on 9707 9755 or email business@cbcity.nsw.gov.au​ before you submit you application.​

#business-grants-pages