2017-11-07 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                 7 NOVEMBER 2017


Amendment                                                          Rationale
For profit businesses are eligible to apply to the                 To fully leverage the strengths of the local
Economic Development Grant Program provided that                   business community, enable collaboration and
funded projects are not run for the direct commercial              the development of strategic partnerships.
profit of an individual business.
Operate the Economic Development Grant Program                     An open grant round will enable Council to:
as an open or rolling grant round. That is to say, the                 Be more responsive,
program opens on a date specified in the program
                                                                       Work with stakeholders to plan and develop
guidelines and remains open until all funds are
                                                                       programs,
dispersed or until the end of the financial year,
whichever comes first.                                                 Remove the issue of aligning the planning
                                                                       cycle of stakeholders within a defined and
                                                                       small grant application period.
The Economic Development Grant Program will                        Due to limited volunteer capacity within
facilitate not for profit business representative                  stakeholder organisations and in some
associations taking on additional projects. Funding                instances existing programs, business
agreements will consider funding both on going                     representative groups find it increasingly difficult
operational costs and project specific costs, for the              to take on projects. Funding operational costs to
duration of the grant thus providing additional                    successful grant applicants who provide a
support for business associations to grow and                      significant benefit to the business community will
expand their reach and benefit to the business                     provide a stronger incentive and enable a better
community.                                                         use of resources.

Assessment and Determination
Quick Response Grant applications will be approved by the Economic Development Manager.
Project Partnership Grants with a value of less than 30% of the original annual Grants Program
budget amount will be approved by the Chief Executive Officer based on recommendations from
the Director Environment and Sustainable Development. Grants valued at over 30% of the
original annual Grants Program budget amount will be approved by Council.
Multi Year Partnership Grants will be approved by Council.
The following assessment matrix will be applied when assessing grant applications as per the
criteria identified in the Economic Development Grant Program Guidelines. A 1-5 rated score
system will be used, with 5 being the highest score.

                                                                          App 1    App 2    App 3     App 4    App 5
Criteria 1 - The extent to which the project aligns with and
addresses key findings, weaknesses and/or threats, or targets the
opportunities identified in the Local Economic Plan
Criteria 2 - The extent to which the project can demonstrate
community benefit
Criteria 3 - The scale of the economic impact likely to be achieved
(e.g. creating the conditions for business success, industry or
business development, investment attraction)
Criteria 4 - The level of innovation, insight or creative thinking that
makes the project unique
Criteria 5 - The quality of the application (e.g. a well-developed,
clear and realistic action plan, supported by research where
appropriate and including an accurate financial plan/budget)
Criteria 6 - The ability of the organisation and/or stakeholder
group to deliver the project
Criteria 7 - The potential for the project to create
business/industry networks and partnerships that can drive future
economic development activities



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