Uptown Grant Program Round 2 (New Applicants)

Your application will need to include the following:

• the total grant amount requested
• a District Team profile including a list of the number of team members, their business names and type, ownership/contact details and operating details of member businesses involved
• evidence that your District Team is represented by an Eligible entity including your membership, constitution, and ABN 
• a nominated lead representative for your District Team, including contact information and relevant identity documentation
• a description of the geographical boundary of your District including the LGA(s) in which the District is located
• a clear and concise District vision
• a District Plan outlining activities that will be delivered within the funding period
• a well substantiated Budget for how you will spend the grant, including any co-contributions
• a constitution or governance plan which details the structure and arrangements for the District Team
• a Risk Management Plan
• a letter of support or no objection from the local council your District is based in (desirable, not mandatory)
• a Programming Plan if delivering a recurring, multi-venue program
• evidence of district longevity and growth demonstrated through current or planned partnerships, strategies to engage, retain and attract members and ability to sustain activities beyond the grant program

Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.

Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.

All applications will be assessed for eligibility and only eligible applications will be considered for funding. You will be required to provide the following information to demonstrate and substantiate how your application meets these criteria:

1. District Vision (10%) - A vision for your district that clearly summarises the district’s aims and purpose. The vision should reflect how you want your district represented and promoted. 

The District Vision should clearly demonstrate: 

• Goals 
• Audience (existing and/or desired) 
• District member growth aspirations 
• Character 
• Aspiration for the identity of your location 
• Unique selling proposition 

2. Composition (10%) - Demonstrate strength and diversity within the District Team’s membership, which reflects District Vision and connection to district location. 

Details of the active members within the Eligible Entity, including a breakdown of: 

• the number of businesses involved, their names and addresses 
• the sectors represented 
• the role and relevance of the members in delivering the District Vision 

A business chamber may also provide a full list of their membership. 

3. District Plan (30%) - A comprehensive plan for your district which outlines the deliverables you seek to achieve and alignment to the objective of the Uptown Grant Program. 

A comprehensive District Plan should clearly demonstrate: 

• Coordinator role and activities (e.g. meeting coordination, partner identification, business networking and any other action areas identified in the District Vision) 
• Consumer engagement activities that develop and/or promote the District brand 
• Objectives of the project 
• Roles and responsibilities  
• Timelines for delivery, including key milestones and ability to deliver within 12 months 
• Success measures, including outcomes and KPIs (see list of indicators in Appendix B of the PDF Guidelines from the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner)
• Programming plan* if trialling recurring, multi-venue programming  

*If your district is seeking funding to trial or expand recurring, multi-venue programming, a separate programming plan must be provided. The plan must clearly demonstrate: 

• Event purpose and description 
• Objectives and how the event promotes the District brand 
• Target audience 
• Ability for the event to be recurring 
• Participating venues 
• Timelines 
• Activities and deliverables 
• Communication plan 
• Outcomes and success measures 

4. Budget (20%) - A detailed and itemised budget of the proposed activities to be undertaken within a 12-month period.

The budget must demonstrate clear use of funds through identifying: 

• the total amount being sought 
• costs for eligible activities and deliverables 
• other proposed income 
• source of funding for activities (i.e. Grant funds or other income streams) 
• adherence to the minimum 50% spend on district coordination  

5. Governance & Risk (15%) - Demonstration of governance structures that support the District Vision and ability to deliver on the objective of the Uptown Grant Program. Consideration given to risks and how they will be managed by the District Team in the short and long term.

Evidence of appropriate governance structures and arrangements such as a constitution which covers the following: 

• Membership (e.g. fees, entitlements, liabilities) 
• Committee (e.g. functions, member election, duties) 
• Meetings (e.g. how and when they will be conducted) 
• Decision making (e.g. notices, quorum, voting) 

A risk management plan that identifies and provides evidence of consideration given to short and long-term risks.  

Evidence of insurance coverage, as appropriate, for your District Team’s activities. 

6. Longevity & Growth (15%) - Demonstrate commitment and capacity for District Teams to develop long-term business models that allow for district sustainment and growth. 

Demonstrate ability to sustain District activities beyond the Uptown Grant Program, including: 

• strategies to identify, attract and engage sponsors, partners, councils and other government agencies 
• evidence of current, past or planned partnerships 
• capacity to generate income through other funding streams such as membership fees and grants 
• outline of in-kind support 
• strategy for sustaining and attracting membership 
• approach to funding and/or using an on-going coordination function 
• evidence of the growth of the District since its establishment (e.g. members, social media followers etc.) 
• letter of support or no objection from the relevant council your District is based in (desirable, not mandatory)

Where an applicant does not provide the required information identified above, DEIT reserves the right to: 

• provide the applicant with the opportunity to provide the required information within probity requirements; or  
• assess the application on the basis of the information provided; or  
• deem the application to be non-conforming and decline the application, including where the application is considered not viable due to unsatisfactory governance.  

Other relevant factors and risks may also be considered, as determined by DEIT, in its sole discretion, including:  

• assessment of the applicant’s management, its directors and officers and entities or individuals that exercise control over an applicant against the eligibility criteria; and  
• assessment of other factors that may cause applicants to be unsuitable for support, such as any personnel or business activities that could cause reputational or other risk to the NSW Government. 

DEIT reserves the right to use any other resource, process or procedure available - which may include the use of third-party services - to assess any claims made by, or risks associated with, the Applicant.