Shop Local

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

• Hold a current ABN.
• Be located within the City of Charles Sturt.
• Deliver a new project between August 2026 and 30 June 2027.
• Agreement to fund a minimum of 50% of the project costs.
• Provide all required approvals relevant to the project, including property owner consent, development approval and council permits (where applicable).
• Provide any required insurance documentation.
• Include supporting documentation such as quotes, concept drawings, photographs where relevant.

Ineligible applicants:

• Businesses that have received Shop Local grant funding in both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.
• City of Charles Sturt staff member, Elected Member or their immediate family members.
• Applicants with outstanding grant funding acquittals or debts to the City of Charles Sturt (excluding hardship provisions for rates).

Please note: Applicants may only receive funding for two consecutive years.

• Property owners
• Businesses owners with a physical shopfront and display windows, open to and trading with the public (with written consent from the property owner).
• Small to medium enterprises (SMEs)
• Social enterprises
• Arts organisations
• Live music  venues

• Improve the appearance and appeal of local businesses.
• Create welcoming and accessible business precincts
• Increase visitation and support local economic activity.
• Encourage creative place and business activation.
• Support the presentation of live music and arts and cultural experiences.

Funding is available for projects including:

• Shopfront and façade improvements
• Outdoor dining enhancements
• Accessibility improvements
• Gallery and exhibition space fit outs
• New rehearsal room fit outs
• Murals and public art on the exterior of your business
• Creative and artistic window displays
• Live music and performing arts infrastructure
• Infrastructure that supports the temporary activation of vacant shopfronts
• Creative placemaking initiatives that contribute to vibrant and welcoming business precincts

Shopfront and Streetscape Improvements

• Signage for new businesses.
• Replacement or repair of signage that is five years or older.
• Surface treatments such as painting, cladding, rendering, tiling and other external surface treatments .
• Installation of awnings, canopies, or façade lighting.
• Non-fixed outdoor dining furniture and streetscape enhancements.
• Landscaping, planters, green walls and greening initiative.
• Public art including murals and sculptures.
• Removal of solid security shutters and replacement with glass or security glazing.
• Accessibility Improvements such as ramps or widened entrances.
• Façade reconfigurations, including new windows and architectural features.

Creative Place Activation

• New gallery and exhibition fitouts.
• Art or Creative window displays.
• Live music and performing arts infrastructure.
• Infrastructure to support vacant shop activation.
• Equipment that enhances the presentation of live music, visual arts or performing arts.
• Other projects that improve the attractiveness and activation of business precincts, as determined by the internal committee.

Note: Funding is not retrospective. Projects must not begin before your application is approved. All relevant approvals (e.g. development, building, landlord consent) must be secured before applying, and evidence included with your application.

• Projects outside the City of Charles Sturt.
• Works undertaken without required council or landlord approvals.
• Routine maintenance, cleaning or general property repairs.
• Improvements not visible or accessible from the street.
• Retrospective funding for works already started or completed before grant approval.

• Grants up to a maximum of $2000 (excluding GST) no matched funding required
• Grants between $2001- $5,000 (excluding GST) on 50% matched funding basis with applicant

• Contractor fees and supplier costs directly related to the project.
• Materials required for the project.
• Development approval fees required for the project (where applicable).

Note: Funding is not retrospective. Projects must not commence until written grant approval has been received. All relevant approvals (e.g. development, building, landlord consent) must be secured before applying and evidence included with your application.

Applications are open ongoing until 30 June 2027, or until funds are exhausted.

Project activity must be completed by 30 June 2027.

Applications must be submitted at least one (1) month before the proposed start date.

Grant payments are generally made after:

• The project has been completed.
• Evidence that expenditure has been provided.
• The project has been acquitted.

Upfront or milestone payments may be considered in exceptional circumstances following a written request and the submission of an itemised budget, supporting documentation and receipt of any payments.

A Place Leader will review your application to ensure it:

• meets all eligibility requirements;
• aligns with the program objectives;
• supports the City of Charles Sturt's Community Vision;
• includes all required approvals, supporting documentation and an itemised budget; and
• demonstrates that the project is achievable within the proposed timeframe and budget.

Applicants proposing shopfront improvements should also provide photographs of the existing facade and where possible concept images of the proposed improvements.

Eligible applications will be presented by the Place Leader to a panel for final assessment and decision against the following criteria:

Applicants may be contacted to provide additional information during the assessment process.

Applicants will generally be notified of the outcome of their application within three weeks of submitting an application.