Latrobe City Business Capability Grants

Are you a small business ready to grow? Whether you're looking to expand operations, upskill your workforce, or upgrade your equipment and infrastructure, the Latrobe City Business Capability Grants can help you take the next step.

These grants support eligible Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including both new and existing businesses, strengthen operations, grow profitability, and create new employment opportunities, supporting a stronger local economy.

There are two funding streams available:

Workforce Development and Training: Supporting training, skills development, and access to local professional services to enhance business and employee capability.
Funding available: up to $4,000 per applicant. (partial funding may be awarded)
Business Expansion and Infrastructure: Providing funding for infrastructure upgrades or equipment purchases that enable business expansion, increase productivity, or improve service delivery.
Funding available: up to $8,000 per applicant. (partial funding may be awarded)

Key Dates
Applications Open	Monday 2 June, 2025
Applications Close	Friday 11 July, 2025

Application assessment start once grants close 11 July.
Decision on applications expected by the start of September, subject to application volumes.
Successful applicants will be publicly announced after funding agreements are in place.

Information Sessions

Date	Location	Time
Wednesday 28 May, 2025	Latrobe City Council Headquarters, Nambur Room	6pm to 7pm	Book Now
Thursday 19 June, 2025	Latrobe City Council Headquarters, Nambur Room	4pm to 5 pm	Book Now

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility

Your business must:

Be a small to medium business that employs up to 99 full-time or equivalent (FTE) employees at the time of applying*.
Have an aggregated turnover of $10 million or less for small businesses, or up to $100 million for medium businesses.
Have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN).
Be based in Latrobe City Council for the majority of, or all your business operations.
Be an Australian registered business, sole trader, company, business cooperative or partnership & provide documented evidence of its legal structure.
Be able to provide evidence of appropriate business insurance.
Have no outstanding acquittals or debts to Latrobe City Council.
Demonstrate financial viability as evidenced by relevant financial information.
Complete the funded activity within 12 months of receiving funding approval. Failure to complete the project within the agreed period may result in the withdrawal of funding or a requirement to return funds already provided.

* FTE is calculated based on total hours worked, where 38 hours per week = 1.0 FTE. This includes sole traders and part-time operators.

2. Read the grant guidelines

3. Additional support

Attend a Grant Writing & Budgeting Workshop:

Date

Location

Time

Wednesday 18 June, 2025

Latrobe City Council Library, Moe

1:00pm

Book Now

Wednesday 18 June, 2025

Latrobe City Council Headquarters, Morwell

5:30pm

Book Now

The following two resources are available to assist you in completing your application:

View guidance from Business Victoria on financial statements, business plans and workforce planning:

Contact the Latrobe City Council Business Concierge to discuss the grant opportunity via email Busdev@latrobe.vic.gov.au or call 1300 367 700.

How To apply

All grant applications must be completed online.

Ensure you have carefully read the guidelines and meet the eligibility criteria.
Register online at SmartyGrants and preview a copy of the application.
Select the correct grant stream that you would like to apply for.
Plan, research, and gather information required for your application.
Complete your application:
a. Answer all questions.
b. Upload all supporting documents
Submit your application before the closing date and time. On submission, you will receive an electronic reply acknowledging your receipt from SmartyGrants.

Please note that we do not accept applications sent via email or via post.

Applications Open Monday 2June, 2025.

Assessment Process

Applications are scored against the following criteria:

Business Plan
Financial Viability
Demonstrated potential for job creation and economic impact to Latrobe City

Latrobe City Council completes a due diligence process to all applications to ensure all eligibility criteria are met.

Applications are individually assessed by a panel including senior management from Latrobe City Council which will consider the diversity of applications as a set.

Canvassing or lobbying of Councillors, employees of Latrobe City Council or the assessment panel members in relation to any funding application is prohibited.

Interpreter and Translation Services

To contact us in your own language through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) phone 13 14 50 and ask them to contact the Latrobe City Council on 1300 367 700

If you are deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment:

Contact us through the National Relay Service;
Teletypewriter (TTY) users phone 133 677 then ask for 1300 367 700;
Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 1300 367 700;
Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask for 1300 367 700

Grant Portal Technical Assistance

Acknowledging Council support

When a business receives a grant from us, they agree to acknowledge Council’s contribution to their project. This acknowledgement must include the Latrobe City Council master logo on supporting publications, displays or signage.

You can request the Latrobe City Council master logo by completing our logo use request form on our Logo use request page.

This program is supported by the Victorian Government.