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VIC Aboriginal Business Growth Program

VIC Aboriginal Business Growth Program

  • Applications are currently open until 6 September 2024
  • $10,000 to $100,000 in funding available per applicant 

The Victorian Aboriginal Business Growth Program is providing funding from $10,000 to $100,000 to support the growth and development of Aboriginal businesses.

Key Requirements

The Victorian Aboriginal Business Growth Program is offering grants to Aboriginal businesses and organisations in Victoria to support investments that enable their growth and development. This program aligns with the Aboriginal community’s focus on strengthening connections to community, land, and culture, and the Victorian Government’s commitment to self-determination and promoting business growth and economic inclusion for Aboriginal people.

The objectives of this program are to:

  • Help Aboriginal businesses access necessary capital and expertise
  • Strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of Aboriginal businesses by providing resources and support for business improvements
  • Empower Aboriginal enterprises to achieve their economic development goals by providing resources and support for workforce development and business growth
  • Enhance the capacity of Aboriginal businesses to build, retain, and develop a skilled workforce, thereby promoting their sustainability and competitiveness

The intended outcomes of this program are:

  • Aboriginal business owners have improved business competencies
  • Aboriginal businesses are better equipped to grow
  • More Aboriginal people are financially independent
  • Aboriginal community enterprises are more attractive to investors
  • Aboriginal people have increased economic opportunities

Projects must reach completion by 31 May 2025.

What is eligible for funding?

The activities that are eligible for funding are as follows:

  • Acquiring assets, equipment, and machinery
  • Developing and implementing business cases
  • Conducting feasibility studies
  • Analysing potential sites
  • Making minor building alterations and renovations
  • Paying for labour and contractors related to projects
  • Improving business processes
  • Providing technical and specialised training
  • Offering targeted professional development and mentoring

A project may involve one or more of these activities.

What companies are eligible for funding?

In order to be eligible applicants must:

  • Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Be an Aboriginal-owned and operated business
  • Be based in Victoria and have economic ties to regional Victoria
  • Be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST)
  • Be registered with the relevant federal or state regulator

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.