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Guidelines
The $4 million CBD Revitalisation Grant Program (the program) is part of a $12 million package to bring people back into the Perth CBD to accelerate economic and social recovery.
This will be achieved by providing targeted funding for activation activities to eligible businesses, property owners and not-for-profits to run a wide-range of events that focus on increasing foot traffic in the city, utilising empty and unused buildings throughout the CBD and activating the night-time economy.
The State Government has committed $12 million to revitalise the Perth CBD. This includes a $4 million grant program for businesses, property owners and not-for-profit organisations to revitalise the city through event and activation activities over the next 12 months.
Eligible applicants will be able seek grant funding of up to $100,000 through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) through three funding rounds with specific delivery dates.
As part of the program, applicants will also be able to apply to the WA Government for the use of locations such as Elizabeth Quay, Yagan Square and the Cultural Centre Precinct. Applications for use of State-managed sites must be made separately to the relevant agency.
To allow flexibility, applications can be submitted during any of the three funding rounds so long as the event is delivered by 30 June 2023. Priority will be given to events that will be held by the delivery date for that funding round.
To ensure greatest impact, funding is awarded on a competitive basis and provides grants in 3 rounds.
To be eligible for the program applicants must:
To be eligible, the project must be for the primary purpose of revitalising the CBD through events and activation activities.
Examples of eligible events and activations activities include one-off events or event series that encourage ongoing visitation to the CBD, such as:
To be eligible, costs must:
Eligible costs include, but not be limited to:
DLGSC will make the final decision on whether a claimed cost is eligible or reasonable and can decide to only pay the reasonable amount as per the signed grant agreement.
Any unused funding must be returned back to DLGSC as part of the acquittal process.
All eligible costs will be paid inclusive of GST.
The grant cannot be used for the following activities:
Considerations include:
This is based on the projected economic benefits presented within the application.
Applications must be submitted online through SmartyGrants. The application form will require the following information:
If further guidance is required on the application process, contact LGResponse@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
The CBD Revitalisation Grant Program Team will assess applications against the eligibility criteria set out in these guidelines.
Proposals that are assessed as meeting the eligibility criteria will proceed and be assessed by the CBD Revitalisation Grant Review Committee.
DLGSC may discuss the application with other state or local government entities that are listed as funders and/or partners.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate the competitiveness and the alignment of the activity/application against the funding criteria.
CBD Revitalisation Grant Review Committee (Grant Review Committee) will consider eligible applications against the eligibility criteria set out in these guidelines. Where the CBD Revitalisation Grant Review Committee considers an application unsuitable or unsatisfactory against any criteria, it may exclude that application from further evaluation.
Applicants that are deemed to meet the eligibility criteria will then progress to a preliminary assessment against the Assessment Criteria by the CBD Revitalisation Grant Program Team. This will result in a score attributed to each criteria, a summary of each applications, reason for scoring and other notable information relating to the application for consideration by the Grant Review Committee.
Final eligibility determinations and recommendations for funding and suitability of each project for support to the Director General will be made by the Grant Review Committee.
During the assessment process, applicants may be asked to provide additional information either in the preliminary assessment, or by the Grant Review Committee as part of its considerations, to assist in the assessment process. Advice may be sought from other WA Government agencies or other sources to assist in the assessment of projects as required.
The Director General will consider advice and recommendations from the CBD Revitalisation Grant Review Committee.
The Director General will approve the provision and amount of support to individual projects.
Applicants should not lobby the Minister/s, DLGSC Director General or members of the Grant Review Committee during the application or assessment process. Any breaches of this condition may result in the application being deemed ineligible.
From the date of application lodgement and provision of all relevant documentation, the processing period for each stage will be in line with the timeframes listed under ‘key dates’.
The assessment will be based on the information provided. Applicants will be notified via email on the outcome of their application. Where an application or claim is unsuccessful, a reason will also be provided.
All enquiries must be sent through LGresponse@dlgsc.wa.gov.au for response, citing the application number.
Successful applicants will be notified via written correspondence. Successful applicants may be requested to keep any grant support confidential for a period of time if an announcement is likely to be made by the WA Government.
The WA Government will notify successful applicants by the stipulated timeframes.
Successful applicants will be required to enter into a CBD Revitalisation Grant Program agreement with the WA Government. The WA Government will require the grant agreement to be executed no later than two weeks after the decision has been made.
The WA Government makes no binding funding or support commitment to an applicant unless and until both parties sign a CBD Revitalisation Grant Program agreement.
The CBD Revitalisation Grant Program agreement may require the successful applicant to provide a copy of all supporting documentation relevant to the project or as requested by DLGSC. Supporting documentation may include, but is not limited to, relevant approvals required to hold the event, a risk management plan, valid public liability insurance, first aid and emergency services access, waste and litter management, and security and crowd control plan.
Project activities will be set out as milestones in the CBD Revitalisation Grant Program agreement. Timing and requirements will vary depending on the scope and timelines of the project.
Successful applicants will be required to submit project progress reports to DLGSC as outlined in the CBD Revitalisation Grant Program agreement. Examples of measures to be included in the report are completion of project activities and the number event participants and/or attendance as a result of the project.
DLGSC will pay the grant once the grant agreement has been executed. Grantees will be required to report how the grant funds were spent at the completion of the project.
DLGSC may set payment amounts and timings subject to achievement of specific milestones. The milestone payments will be noted and agreed to through the grant agreement.
Grantees must submit reports in line with the funding agreement. All grantees will be expected to report on:
The scope of works and milestones submitted as part of the application will form the basis of project reporting requirements.
When a grantee completes the project, the grantee must submit a final report and an audited financial report for the project as part of the acquittal process.
Final reports must:
DLGSC will evaluate the program to measure how well the outcomes and objectives have been achieved. Information from the application and progress reports may be used for this purpose. Grantees may also be interviewed or asked for further information to assist with understanding the program impact and to evaluate how effective the program was in achieving its outcomes.
DLGSC and the Office of the Auditor General reserves the right to undertake an audit of program funding and support within seven years. Tracking and reporting will be a requirement of the grant agreement.
Unspent funds, as detailed in the application and/or grant agreement will be returned. Applicants that wish to re-allocate unspent funds to expenses/activity costs that align with the eligible costs within these guidelines must seek and gain approval from DLGSC.
The WA Government logo should be used on all materials related to grants provided to the project. Whenever the logo is used, the publication must also acknowledge the WA Government.
If a grantee makes a public statement about a project funded under the program, the grantee is required to acknowledge the program and the support provided.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application within 45 business days from application close date.
DLGSC staff are available to provide guidance and clarity relating to the process and can be contacted at LGResponse@dlgsc.wa.gov.au. DLGSC staff are not able to assist in writing, completing or submitting the application or in delivery of the activity.
Applicants should seek advice from their legal, business, and financial advisors to determine the suitability of the program before applying.
For further information or clarification, applicants can contact LGResponse@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
Answers to your questions may be published on the DLGSC website.
If there are issues with how DLGSC has handled an enquiry or complaint, these may be referred to the WA Ombudsman.
Any conflicts of interest could affect the performance of the program. There may be a conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, if DLGSC staff, any member of a committee or advisor and/or the applicant or any of its associates:
All applicants will be required to declare, as part of the application, any perceived or existing conflicts of interests or that, to the best of your knowledge, there is no conflict of interest.
If an actual, apparent or perceived conflict of interest is later identified, the applicant must inform DLGSC immediately.
DLGSC staff, committee members and other officials including the decision maker must declare any conflicts of interest.
Conflicts of interest for DLGSC will be handled as set out in its Grants Administration Conflict of Interest Policy, and Managing Conflicts of Interest Guidelines.
Personal information is managed according to the Australian Privacy Principles, set out in Schedule 1 to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Personal information can only be disclosed to someone for the primary purpose for which it was collected unless an exemption applies.
DLGSC may also use or disclose information about grant applicants and grant recipients under this grant opportunity for reporting purposes.
Applicants should be aware that information submitted in applications and all related correspondence, attachments and other documents may be made publicly available under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA). Information that is deemed to be commercially sensitive will be withheld. The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA) makes government information accessible to the public by:
DLGSC does not guarantee or warrant, and accepts no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency, or completeness of any material contained in this publication. Information in this publication is provided as general information only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a qualified professional.
DLGSC recommends that users exercise care and use their own skill and judgement in using information from this publication and that users carefully evaluate the accuracy, currency, completeness, and relevance of such information. Users should take steps to independently verify the information in this publication and, where appropriate, seek professional advice.
The guidelines are subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of DLGSC. Any changes will be communicated publicly and to program applicants.