Program overview

The Microenterprise Development Grants Program supports the creation of sustainable microbusinesses through funding programs that address socio-cultural constraints to participation and entrepreneurship for priority groups of Victorians, including:

  • Women experiencing disadvantage (including: facing barriers to employment, over 45 years, impacted by family violence)
  • People with a disability
  • Aboriginal people
  • Young people (18 to 25 years)
  • Low-income or unemployed people
  • People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Microenterprise Development Grants will provide support to organisations with experience in delivering capability development programs that address socio-cultural constraints to economic participation and entrepreneurship for priority groups of Victorians.

Eligibility

Applicant eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

  1. Be an incorporated organisation with not-for-profit status
  2. Have a business address in Victoria and conduct the proposed activities in Victoria
  3. Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) at the date of application
  4. Be registered for GST at the date of application
  5. Have been in operation for at least 2 years
  6. Have experience in delivering programs that address social and/or cultural barriers to economic participation

The following are not eligible to apply:

  • a Commonwealth, State and Local government agency or public body
  • a company not incorporated in Australia
  • an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
  • an industry association or business chamber
  • a publicly funded research organisation
  • a private or for-profit business

Project Eligibility

A Project must be based in Victoria and work with people who wish to start their own microenterprise, from one or more from the list of priority groups:

  • Women experiencing disadvantage (including: facing barriers to employment, over 45 years, impacted by family violence)
  • Young People (18 to 25 years)
  • Low-income or unemployed people
  • Aboriginal people
  • People who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
  • People with a disability

Projects should work closely with community organisations and relevant stakeholders to deliver holistic support for participants.

Projects should include culturally appropriate service delivery that is tailored to a priority group/cohort.

For full eligibility criteria, see the program guidelines.

Program Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please view the program guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions for further information.

Microenterprise Development Grants Program Guidelines (DOCX 1562.91 KB) DOCX icon

Microenterprise Development Grants Program Guidelines (PDF 248.74 KB) PDF icon

Also see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

How to apply

Applications open on 22 March 2022 and close at 11:59pm on 10 April 2022.

Please read all the information on this page, including program guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs) before submitting your application and relevant documentation via the 'Apply now' buttons on this page.

More information

An information session will be held on Monday, 28 March 2022 from 4pm to 5pm. Register for the session via Humanitix.

For further assistance, please contact the Social Procurement and Enterprise team on SPE@ecodev.vic.gov.au.