Applications open Wednesday 1 July at 9am, apply here
Are you ready to transform your shopfront? If your shop needs a makeover, this is the grant for you!
Hume City Council seeks to support retail and hospitality businesses with a shopfront including those that are in industrial estates, arcades and laneways, to help create fresh facades and improve the presentation of their shopfronts to add to the overall streetscape visual appeal and to help drive foot trade.
Hume City Council is offering $200,000 to be allocated for a Shopfront Improvement Grant Program. The maximum amount that each business can receive is $7,500 (plus GST) to improve the presentation of shopfronts, which will add to the overall streetscape, visual appeal and help to drive foot trade.
The street-facing shopfront must be in a shopping strip in Hume and not located inside a shopping centre.
Exception: Businesses located within a shopping centre managed by an Owners Corporation or Body Corporate may be eligible. For example, retail and hospitality businesses located in Gladstone Park Shopping Centre, Craigieburn Plaza, Sunbury Central and Sunbury Target Centre may be eligible to apply.
Businesses located within such a shopping centre are encouraged to contact Council prior to applying, to confirm their eligibility.
Some examples of what may be funded under this project include:
- accessibility access – installing automatic doors and installing a wheelchair ramp
- awning and canopies
- external shopfront lighting
- new signage or replacing old signage in accordance with relevant regulatory requirements
- painting the façade of the shop
- redecorating exterior shopfront walls
- upgrades to windows and doors
- window decals
- digital display boards
- serving windows
- cafe barriers
- planter boxes
Applications can be made by owners of retail and hospitality businesses.
Please note you do NOT need to attend a workshop to apply for a Shopfront Improvement Grant.
Documents Required
To give your application every opportunity, please read this document in full before starting your application.
Shopfront-Improvement-Grant-Program-2026.pdf(PDF, 424KB)
Applications are online via SmartyGrants on the Hume City Council website at Hume Business Grants
You will need to provide the following as part of your application:
- a brief summary of (DOCX, 65KB)your project plan(DOCX, 64KB) (use the template provided)
- include 'before' and 'after' photos of the shopfront
- quotes for the work – preferably by local Hume contractors
- any relevant permits and/or licenses
- financial reports – last 12 months minimum required (business must have been operational for a minimum of 12 months in order to apply).
Once you submit your application, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application from SmartyGrants. Please keep this reference number handy in case you need to refer to it in future.
A council officer will be in touch if further information is required.
Applications open Wednesday 1 July at 9am, apply here
If you have an idea and seeking financial support, then we encourage you to apply for a Hume City Small Business Grant.
Small businesses make a large contribution to the local economy and add to the vibrancy and energy of Hume, which is why Hume City Council is pleased to be offering business support grants.
Before submitting an application, you MUST register and attend ONE of the Hume Small Business Grant Workshops below to be able to apply. A business can only apply for one Business Grant Program every 2 years.
Craigieburn - Wednesday 15 July 10am - 11.30am
About the Program
Recognising the importance of supporting small businesses Hume City Council is offering $150,000 to be allocated for this Grant Program. It should be noted that the Program is not an emergency support program and the maximum amount that a business can receive is $20,000 (plus GST).
Grant Program
Total Grant Pool $150,000
Maximum amount businesses can receive $20,000 (plus GST)
The funding criteria has been developed to provide flexibility to the many businesses across Hume. Council encourages Startups, Home Based Businesses and Sole Traders to apply, providing they have been operational for a minimum of 12 months.
Documentation Required
To give your idea or project the best possible chance of success, you will need to read this brochure(PDF, 490KB) and provide the following as part of your submission:
- A Summary of your business’ project/idea
(DOCX, 61KB)
-
A Project Plan(DOCX, 63KB) (use template provided)
-
Project quotes for every item on your project plan
Please note:
- quotes must be from suppliers who hold a registered ABN
- quotes from family members will not accepted
-
Any relevant licenses or permits i.e. Registration of Food Premises Permit(PDF, 444KB)
-
You will need to demonstrate how your business will accomplish one or more of the following goals and outcomes:
- Create new employment opportunities
- Support local employment growth
- Further expand your business and build on the successful business model and growth potential
6. Financial Reports
7. Your Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance(PDF, 234KB) (minimum $10 million)
Hume City Council will only accept applications with the mandatory attachments.
Application Process
In order to submit an application, you MUST attend a Small Business Grant Information Session.
Smarty Grants will allow you to save your application along the way and return to it when you have the completed documentation.
Once you submit your application you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your application from SmartyGrants. Please keep this reference number handy in case you need to refer to it in future.
A council officer will be in touch if further information is required.
The Hume City Small Business Grant Program will finish when the full grant amount of $150,000 is expended.
Questions
If you experience any technical difficulties with your online application, or have any further questions contact the Economic Development Team, business@hume.vic.gov.au
Congratulations to the following successful businesses of 2025/2026 Hume Small Business Grants
- Basement Wraps
- Central Park Remedial Therapy
- Obami House
- Evaryde Gelato
- Potato Corner Craigieburn
- Melbourne Arancini
- VHM Bros
- Degani Broadmeadows
- A Grade Upholstery
- Melrose Pizza
- That Creative Hub
- Ottimo Bakery
- Pekkish Chicken
- Mickleham Physiotherapy Services
External Grant Opportunities