Support for business

Cultural, community, business and environment grants now open for 2022

Apply to enliven city spaces, diversify our nightlife and support the green economy.

Wanna Dance for Sydney Solstice credit Anna Kucera

If you have a great idea that would benefit local communities but need a kick-start to get it off the ground, our grants and sponsorships program may be able to help.

These grants close on 23 August and are for activities from January to December 2022. Here’s a breakdown of what’s on offer.

Festival and events – village and community

These grants are for projects that support businesses and bring economic benefits to an area, showcase the cultural heritage of a suburb, or encourage connection to place and space. They’re designed to bring local community members and visitors to local business precincts in our area. From events to community festivals, you can apply for funding now.

How much can you apply for: New village and community festivals and events can apply for up to $30,000. Funding for established or other festivals and events are negotiated on consultation.

Who can apply: Not-for-profits and auspice required for individuals and unincorporated community groups.

Festival and events – artform

Apply for support to run a festival or event that connects diverse audiences to local culture. Or get support for a creative idea to enliven public spaces, businesses or local neighbourhoods.

How much can you apply for: Up to $30,000. Applications over $20,000 must speak with the City of Sydney prior to applying.

Who can apply: For profits, not-for-profits and auspice required for sole traders, individuals and unincorporated community groups.

Business support – live music and performance

Large or small, established or new, small bar or retail store, if you operate a business in our area, you can apply for funding to upgrade your facilities. This can be to help you host live music, cabaret, comedy or theatre performances or to make space for artists and creative production.

You might want to build a stage to host live experiences to help renew your business, fit-out a spare room for rehearsal or recording, or provide a studio space for local creatives. This capital works funding could help. Or if you’re an existing venue, it could go towards an equipment upgrade.

How much can you apply for: Up to $30,000, capital and equipment, matched funding.

Who can apply: Not-for-profits, for profits and sole traders.

Business support grant – night time diversification

These grants can help you engage your customers with new and exciting night-time experiences. They support everything from meet the maker events, cooking classes, product and fashion shows to live performances, poetry slams and film screenings.

Large or small, established or new, retail store or café, if you operate a business in our area, you can apply for funding to program activities in your business at night.

How much can you apply for: Up to $30,000 matched funding.

Who can apply: Not-for-profits, for profits and sole traders.

Applicants must match the funding requested with a cash contribution equal to or greater than the funds requested.

Environmental performance - innovation grants

These grants can help you test a new technology or process that responds to the current climate emergency and could be used at scale in the local area.

How much can you apply for: Feasibility studies up to $20,000 (25% matched funding). Demonstration projects up to $80,000 (50% matched funding).

Who can apply: Not-for-profits, for profits with less than 200 workers, owners corporations.

Environmental performance grant - rating and assessments

These grants can help fund organisations to undertake credible, industry-accepted environmental performance ratings, energy or water assessments, and energy audits.

How much can you apply for: Up to $10,000 for residential and $15,000 for accommodation sector.

Who can apply: Not-for-profits, for profits, owners corporations, accommodation, hotels and serviced apartments.

Knowledge exchange sponsorship - economic, cultural, environmental and social

These grants support projects that foster collaboration and learning, invest in local expertise and encourage dialogue on local and global issues. They cover projects that support economic, cultural, environmental and social outcomes.

How much can you apply for: $5,000-$40,000

Who can apply: Not-for-profits and for profits.

Matching grants

These grants are designed to support grassroots and local projects that contribute to vibrant and sustainable communities and economies. We prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, LGBTIQ communities and refugees and asylum seekers.

How much can you apply for: Up to $10,000 in cash and in-kind in total

Who can apply: Not-for-profits, for profits, sole traders, individuals auspiced by a not-for-profit or for-profit that is eligible to apply in their own right, unincorporated community groups, strata and company-owned owners corporations

All applicants must match the total value of the funding requested. The applicants matched value can be measured as value in-kind and cash contributions to the project.

Interested?

Join our webinars for an overview of the grants and sponsorship opportunities. We also hold a webinar for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Need support with your application or have a question?

Call our grants team today on 02 9265 9333.

Stay up to date on our grants and sponsorships opportunities. Subscribe to the grants newsletter for all the latest information, grants opening dates and more.

Published 19 July 2021, updated 29 February 2024