Frequently Asked Questions

Applications open on Tuesday, 27 August 2024.

Applications close at 5pm (ACST) on Friday 29 November 2024, or when funding is exhausted (whichever occurs sooner).

The total funding available under the Round is $20 million, with grants ranging from $2,500 to a maximum of $50,000, per eligible business.

The government will provide up to 50 per cent matched funding through reimbursement of eligible business expenditure from $5,000 (excluding GST and inclusive of the business’ financial contribution).

For example:

• If you spend $5,000, you may be eligible for a grant of $2,500.
• If you spend $20,000, you may be eligible for a grant of up to $10,000.
• If you spend $100,000, you may be eligible for the maximum grant of $50,000.
• If you spend $120,000, you may be eligible for the maximum grant of $50,000.

The Office for Small and Family Business (OSFB) will assess applications in the order in which they are received. The OSFB will endeavour to assess each application within 10 business days, subject to additional information that may be required from applicants as part of the assessment process, or high volumes of applications.

If your application includes items from Section 9 - Other unique projects/equipment ofEligible Project Activities and Expenditure List, assessment of your application may take longer than a standard application as independent third-party verification of the proposed energy efficiencies may be undertaken by OSFB.

You can check the status of your application any time via the application portal, SmartyGrants.

Goods / services purchased, ordered or deposit paid prior to the purchase approval date of your application are not eligible for reimbursement.

Projects may commence any time after you accept the Grant Agreement and Acceptance Form issued by the OSFB. Note this must be accepted within 14 calendar days of it being sent to you.

You will have 6 months to complete purchases and installation and apply for reimbursement from the date a Grant Agreement and Acceptance Form is sent to you.

Reimbursement will be paid once you have provided satisfactory proof of payment of the approved goods/services and a Certificate of Compliance for installations (if applicable).

Valid proof of payment must be a tax invoice(s) showing a zero balance or a payment receipt(s) from an Australian retailer, and include:

• name, address and Australian Business Number (ABN) of the supplier that issued the tax invoice or payment receipt
• date of purchase
• purchase price
• clear itemisation and description of goods/services purchased.

Yes, you can purchase solar panels provided that an accompanying battery storage is included in your application.

Where an item from the Eligible Project Activities and Equipment List refers to ‘replace’, it can only be purchased if you already have one. For any replacement items, as part of your application a photograph will need to be included of the old piece of equipment, the model of the equipment and the energy rating (if known).

Once you provide satisfactory documentation through the reimbursement form, payment can be expected within 15 days into your nominated business bank account.

Emails will come from either service@smartygrants.com.au; noreply@smartygrants.com.au or smallbusinessenergygrants@sa.gov.au

Emails from these addresses may go into spam or junk mail folders, and it is your responsibility to check these folders as some steps during the application process have strict timeframes to respond.

The OSFB may contact you to verify your business bank account details. However, please note we will never ask you to confirm your full business bank account number.

Every business with an active ABN that meets the eligibility requirements can apply for a grant under this Program.

Eligible businesses are determined by the ABN. You can submit only one application with all proposed goods/services to be purchased, including across different locations.

Only one application can be submitted, per ABN.

However, if one of those locations is part of an embedded network, you may submit/be represented in a separate group application, provided there is no duplication of funded activities for that business location and the total funding does not exceed the maximum grant value of $50,000.

For example, Business ABC applies to purchase equipment with a total value of $50,000 (Project 1). The grant value is $25,000.

Business ABC is also part of a separate group application for a different business location. Business ABC’s contribution is 20% of the group application, being a total value of $20,000 (Project 2). The grant value is $10,000.

The combined grant values of Project 1, and the business’ contribution towards Project 2, is $35,000 and therefore does not exceed the maximum grant amount of $50,000 under this Program.

You will need to obtain permission from your landlord or property manager to undertake any proposed work(s). You will also need to confirm that you have obtained permission when completing the declaration part of the application form.

No, home-based businesses that are operating primarily from the owner’s or an employee’s residence are not eligible.

Yes, if all goods/services meet the required criteria and eligible expenditure, and all items are included in one grant application.

You may only make one claim for reimbursement. Interim or progress payments will not be made.

No. Once an application has been submitted, further goods or services cannot be added. You are responsible for ensuring that all items for which funding is sought are included in your application before submitting.

You may withdraw an application at any time by logging into your SmartyGrants account. You may submit a new application before the closing date, however, all applications are processed in the order in which they are received.

Applications close at 5pm (ACST) on Friday 29 November 2024, or when funding is exhausted (whichever occurs sooner).

Yes, your application can include costs of an independent third-party provider to deliver and install the equipment.

The business is required to have an active Australian Business Number to be eligible for funding from the Economic Recovery Fund. Generally, an entity conducting business within Australia will have both an ARBN and an ABN.

As per the program guidelines, any applicant applying must meet the eligibility criteria. If you are a not-for-profit organisation, not registered for GST, you will need to provide evidence that your annual turnover is greater than $75,000 to be considered for assessment.

All grant amounts exclude GST.

Yes, the grant is taxable and needs to be included as assessable income in your business tax return.

You are eligible to apply to this Round so long as the project you submit (in part or full) has not been awarded funding/financial assistance through another State Government financial assistance program.

Funding from other State Government programs will not count towards an applicant’s matched contribution.

Details of all State Government grant and/or loan funding received in the past 2 years and any pending applications for grants and loans must be disclosed in the application form.

Yes, applications with Commonwealth, local or other government funding are encouraged. However, this type of funding will not count towards an applicant’s matched contribution.

Details of all Commonwealth, local or other state government grant and/or loan funding received in the past 2 years and any pending applications for grants and loans must be disclosed in the application form.

If you have previously been unsuccessful for funding under a separate State Government funding program, but meet the eligibility criteria, you are able to apply to Round 2 of the Economic Recovery Fund.

There is no automatic transfer of applications from other grant funds. As the funds have different criteria and application processes, you will need to submit a new application to Round 2 of the Economic Recovery Fund to be considered for funding.

Eligible co-contribution funds exclude:

• contributions made ‘in-kind’
• Commonwealth, state, local or other government funding
• any activities funded from other sources such as grants or concessions
• expenditure incurred prior to the acceptance of a grant agreement
• project development costs such as feasibility studies and consultant reports
• general overhead costs, e.g. wages, rent, vehicles, furniture
• financing, interest or insurance costs
• any costs of preparing an application to this program.

The OSFB will determine whether your application is successful based on the criteria outlined in the Round 2 guidelines.