Berrigan Shire Council to Pilot Small Business Grants Program

Published on 13 February 2025

Berrigan Shire Council (BSC) is set to introduce a new Small Business Grants Program, reallocating funds previously dedicated to the BSC Business Awards. This initiative follows a survey conducted in 2024, where past participants of the Business Awards Program provided valuable feedback. While the awards evening was acknowledged as an enjoyable event, businesses indicated that the awards held little ongoing value beyond the presentation night.

Given the significant staff time and resources required to run the awards over five months, Council has opted to trial this new grants program instead.

The pilot Small Business Grants Program will run for five months, commencing on 15 February 2025, and will be evaluated for effectiveness in July 2025.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Businesses must be based within the Berrigan Shire Council boundaries.
• A Small Business, for the purposes of this grant, is defined as having fewer than 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• The applicant’s annual revenue must be less than $5 million.

Timing:

• Applications open on 15 February 2025.
• Applications will be assessed monthly.
• The grant program will close once all funds are expended or by 30 June 2025, whichever comes first.

Conditions:

• A total of $20,000 has been allocated to the pilot project, with a maximum of $4,000 available per application. Smaller funding requests will be given priority.
• Applications must be submitted online via the BSC website.
• All eligible applications will be assessed by an external committee.
• Each business may submit one application per financial year.
• Successful applicants must complete an online acquittal form and provide receipts.

Assessment Criteria:

• Applications will be evaluated based on:
• The merits of the proposal and its alignment with the stated purpose of the grant program.
• Budget and quotes, including the applicant’s financial contribution and potential economic impacts.
• Employment opportunities generated by the proposal.
• The project’s alignment with one or more of the Community Strategic Plan objectives.

Berrigan Shire Council is committed to supporting small businesses and fostering economic growth within the community. By redirecting funds to a practical and impactful initiative, the Council aims to provide financial support that will benefit local businesses in a tangible way.

For more information, including application details, visit the linked page. 

ENDS

Further information:
Keelan McDonald
Communications, Marketing and Engagement
Berrigan Shire Council