Our Neighbourhood
Our Neighbourhood
Community
Grants
Small
Business Grants
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Application Form
2014 Application Form
Applications close:
Thursday, 2 April 2015 at 5.00pm AWST
We’re looking forward to receiving your application for a small
business grant. Before you fill everything in, have a read through
the pointers below, to make sure your application is eligible.
Eligibility and application procedures
Submitting your application
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•Due to the number of worthy grant
applications we receive, we focus our
attention on certain areas. Have a read
through our eligibility criteria on page 3 of
the Application Kit. We’ve also provided some
guidance of strong and weak applications on
page 6 of this Application Form.
•You should only submit an application for a
proposal idea once. But you’re welcome to
submit more than one application if they’re for
different proposals.
•If you send us an online application and a
paper-based application, we’ll only consider
the online one. We won’t consider emailed or
faxed applications.
•We give preference to applications that are
completed in full.
•You’ll need to include everything within the
Application Form – we won’t be reading
attachments. If we need more information
from you, we’ll let you know.
•We consult with external industry experts in
order to review some applications. They may
contact you to validate your application and
undertake due diligence.
•By submitting your application, you agree to
the Terms and Conditions (on page 10 of the
Application Kit).
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•If you’d prefer to submit your application
online, you can fill out the form at
ourneighbourhood.com.au (we use the Smarty
Grants management tool and encourage you
to apply online).
•If you’re completing a paper-based
application, it will need to be post marked
Thursday, 2 April 2015, or earlier, to be eligible.
•Post paper-based applications (without a
stamp) to:
Australia Post Program Manager
Our Neighbourhood Community Grants
Reply Paid 24393
MELBOURNE VIC 8060
SECTION 1 - Business details
1.1 Business name and details
Organisation name
(Name of the business applying for a grant)
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Trading name (if different)
Street address
State Postcode
Tick here if your postal address is the same as your street address
Postal address (if different to street address)
State Postcode
Business website (If applicable)
ABN
(Please tell us your ABN. Don’t know the ABN? Go to www.abr.business.gov.au or call the Australian Business Register.
Please note you must have an ABN to be eligible).
Not-for-profit community business
(Please tick if your organisation is a not-for-profit community business. Please note if you are not
a not-for-profit community business you are still eligible to apply).
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
ATO registered charity
(Please tick if your organisation is registered as a charity with the Australian Tax Office (ATO).
If you are not sure go to www.acnc.gov.au or call the ACNC advice line. Please note businesses
that are not ACNC registered charities are still eligible to apply).
DGR1 – Deductible Gift Recipient
(Please tick if your business has DGR Item 1 status. If you are not sure go to
www.abr.business.gov.au or call the ATO not-for-profit help line. Please note businesses
that do not have DGR1 are still eligible to apply).
Social Enterprise
(Please tick if your business is a social enterprise).
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1.2 Your business
(Tell us about your business and its purpose, including mission, objectives, number of paid staff, key products/services).
Max 350 words.
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SECTION 2 - Contact details
2.1 Primary contact name
(This person will be the day to day contact for queries relating to this application)
Title (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss)
First name
Surname
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Position held:
Phone number
(
Email
Mobile
)
(Please include an email address so we can better communicate with you. You will only receive information regarding
the 2015 Our Neighbourhood Small Business Grants program, unless you give authorisation to sign up to the mailing list
in Section 7.3.)
Please check your email address is correct, as this is the primary method we will use to contact you.
2.2 Head of business name
(Please ask the head of your business to sign the last page of this Application Form to ensure your application is considered).
Title (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss)
First name
Surname
Position held
Phone number
(
Email
Mobile
)
(Please include an email address so we can better communicate with you. You will only receive information regarding the
2015 Our Neighbourhood Small Business Grants program, unless you give authorisation to sign up to the mailing list in
Section 7.3).
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SECTION 3 - Project Examples
If you’ve read through our eligibility requirements on page 3 of the Application Kit, you’ll have
a good idea of the types of things we’re looking for in grant applications. Here are some more
general examples of strong and weak applications.
Weak funding application
Strong funding application
Reason
Updating a local business’s
computer software package.
A small business in regional
Australia is unable to meet its
production volumes due to a slow,
manual barcoding process. It’s
requesting funding to purchase
a computer, software and printer
so it can implement automated
barcoding, and in doing so meet
demands and offer employment
opportunities.
This business is ready to grow
and develop, and wanting to do
things differently. Funding will
drive business growth and foster
economic opportunities in regional
Australia.
Rebranding a local business’s
website so it has a more
contemporary look and feel.
A retailer of locally made produce
wants to develop a new website.
They’ve explained how the website
will allow them to expand sales of
their existing produce, and also
bring other local suppliers
on board.
Funding the stronger application
will help grow the business through
the use of technology, while also
fostering economic growth in the
wider community.
A request for customer service
training (but without a focus
on how the training will impact
business growth or benefit the
community).
A small domestic cleaning business
is in high demand. It’s requesting
funding to train three people with
a disability to become employees,
helping the company grow further.
The stronger application supports
small business expansion
and creates employment for
marginalised members of the
community.
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SECTION 4 - Grant proposal details
If your business meets all of the eligibility criteria, please continue.
4.1 Proposal title
(Tell us what you would like your proposal to be called – make sure it tells us what the proposal is about).
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4.2 Target customer
(Tell us who the target customer for your proposal is).
4.3 Target market and location
(Tell us your target market and locations for your proposal).
4.4 Role in community
(Tell us the role your business plays in the community and why your business is important to the community).
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4.5 Long proposal description
(Tell us in detail about the proposal you are seeking grant funding for. Please be clear and concise in your description,
and outline how you will achieve economic growth, support the local community, and help the wider community thrive.
You may use bullet points and/or add examples if relevant. Please do not write all capitals). Max 500 words.
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4.6 Short proposal description
(Tell us in one sentence about the proposal you are seeking grant funding for. This description may be displayed on
ourneighbourhood.com.au should your application be successful. Please do not write all capitals). Max 20 words.
4.7 Business maturity
(Tell us why your business is ready to grow to the next level).
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4.8 Growth challenges
(Tell us what is preventing your business from growing to the next level).
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4.9 Key challenges
(As a business, please tell us what your key challenges are, number from 1 to 7, with 1 being the challenge that has the
biggest impact).
Time
Having the right processes and tools in place to keep your business running smoothly
Money/cash flow
Providing your customers with exceptional service
Setting a vision for your business, and putting plans in place to get there
Expanding your professional network and connecting with people who can help your
business grow
Marketing and communications
Other – please specify
4.10 Expected proposal start date:
(Tell us when you expect to begin/implement the proposal. Please note proposals that begin before grant funds are
issued (1 October 2015) will not be eligible).
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ _ _ (d d /m m /y y )
4.11 Expected proposal end date:
(Tell us when you expect the proposal to be completed. Please note proposals that will end more than 12 months
following the date grant funds are issued (after 1 October 2016) will not be eligible).
_ _ /_ _ /_ _ _ _ (d d /m m /y y )
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SECTION 5 - Proposal finances
5.1 Grant funding request amount
(Tell us the total funding amount you are applying for – the maximum is $10,000).
$
5.2 Does the amount requested cover the full proposal cost?
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Yes
No – other sources of funding will be required
5.3 Total proposal funding allocation
(Tell us in detail how much the proposal will cost. Is the funding request for full-funding or part-funding of the proposal idea? If
your request is for part-funding please tell us if you have already sourced the outstanding amount and/or how you will source the
difference). Max 350 words.
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5.4 Proposal budget
(Tell us what the income and expenditure will be for your proposal. Please list all income sources on a separate line.
Remember your income must balance to your expenses).
Income
e.g. Other grant donation
Expenses
$1,000
e.g. Computer software
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Our Neighbourhood Community Grant
TOTAL (must balance expenses)
$
TOTAL (must balance income)
$
Please note: The insurance requirements as specified in the Our Neighbourhood Small Business Grants Application Kit
Terms and Conditions.
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SECTION 6 - Measurement
6.1 Key milestone dates
(Tell us how you will implement the proposal including the key milestone dates – e.g. when you will plan, when you will
implement or run the proposal, and when you will evaluate the proposal). Max 150 words.
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6.2 Expected success measures
(Tell us how you will know if your proposal has been a success. Please provide the outcomes/outputs in measurable objectives.
E.g. Our proposal will increase our sales by 40%, allow us to hire three people with a disability and also allow us to bring two
more local suppliers on board). Max 200 words.
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6.3 Proposal key facts:
(If relevant to your business, tell us the main statistics relating to your proposal).
1
2
3
4
How many people will be directly employed due to
your proposal?
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If any, estimate how many people will be indirectly
employed due to your proposal?
Do you employ any marginalised community
members? If so, how many and what group (i.e.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,
culturally and linguistically diverse, people with a
disability, economically disadvantaged)?
Are there any other key measurement statistics you
can offer to support the benefit of your proposal?
SECTION 7 - Authorisation details
7.1 Conditions of agreement
(In signing of this agreement, the below terms and the terms and conditions as stated in the 2015 Our Neighbourhood
Small Business Grants Application Kit and online at ourneighbourhood.com.au are agreed to).
Terms and Conditions:
By placing a tick in this box I confirm that I have read, understood and accepted the Terms and
Conditions as stated in the 2015 Our Neighbourhood Small Business Grants Application Kit
and online at ourneighbourhood.com.au
1. I am the person named in this form as
the person responsible for submitting the
Application.
2. I have been authorised by the business
named in this form to complete and
submit this Application.
3. I acknowledge the information provided to
be true and correct.
4. Australia Post has the right to accept the
authority of the undersigned as conclusive
evidence of that person’s authority to
execute this agreement on behalf of
the business.
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Please make sure the Head of the Business signs here for this application to be considered.
Title: (Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss)
First name
Surname
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Position held
Organisation
DateSigned
To be considered for an Our Neighbourhood Small Business Grant all completed paper-based
applications must be post marked Thursday, 2 April 2015 or earlier.
7.2 How did you hear about the Our Neighbourhood Small Business Grants program?
In-store from a member of the Post Office or Business Hub at (please insert store address)
Professional Networks
Internet
Local Radio
Industry newsletter
Local Newspaper
Other (please specify)
7.3 Would you like to sign up to the Australia Post Our Neighbourhood newsletter?
Primary Contact:
Head of Business:
I already receive the Our Neighbourhood
newsletter.
I already receive the Our Neighbourhood
newsletter.
Yes, please sign me up to start receiving the
Our Neighbourhood newsletter.
Yes, please sign me up to start receiving the
Our Neighbourhood newsletter.
No thank you, please do not sign me up.
No thank you, please do not sign me up.
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Thank you
Thanks for applying for an Our Neighbourhood Small
Business Grant.
What you need to do now
Please pull out your completed application
form and post it to:
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Australia Post Program Manager
Our Neighbourhood Small Business Grants
Reply Paid 24393
MELBOURNE VIC 8060
You don’t need a postage stamp.
Any questions?
Feel free to get in touch:
1300 765 772 (during normal business hours).
[email protected]
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