The ACT Government has established a new pilot program to support Canberra’s growing social enterprise ecosystem, Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced.
“Social enterprises are businesses that have a social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with public or community benefit.”
In the ACT, 180 social enterprises support more than 3,000 jobs and contribute $318.5 million to the local economy.
“The Territory’s progressive values provide the right environment for growth in this business sector,” Mr Barr said.
“We have established the ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program to support new social enterprises to start up, and help existing social enterprises to take the next step in their business journey.”
The Mill House Ventures, a Canberra social enterprise advisory intermediary, will deliver the grant program on behalf of the ACT Government.
The program will offer between $10,000 to $30,000 in matched funding for product development, business planning, training programs, marketing activities, resources and website development or upgrades.
“We know Canberra is brimming with a community of entrepreneurs who want to create social change, live sustainably, and build inclusion and equity into our social fabric,” Mr Barr said.
Craig Fairweather, CEO of the Mill House Ventures, said the pilot program was “a vital step to supporting the sustainability and growth of this nascent, but critically important, business sector”.
“Establishing an enterprise with the purpose of addressing or minimising a social, community or environmental problem has added complexity and requires specific support.
“Adequate funding allows social enterprises to expand their operations, reach more beneficiaries, have a larger positive impact on the community or environment they serve and creates a more inclusive economy.”
The Mill House Ventures works with businesses across the Territory that seek to trade for purpose. It runs accelerator and incubator business programs for local start-up social entrepreneurs, growth programs, and business support activities to assist their sustainability when up and trading.
Since it was established in 2016, the Mill House Ventures has consulted more than 300 community and for-profit venture founders to achieve defined and lasting social, cultural, economic, or environmental impact.
Notable alumni include Altina Drinks, Kulture Break, Little Luxton, Jazida Productions, The Climate Factory, Easy Read Toolbox, Café Stepping Stone, and GetAboutAble.
Applications for the ACT Social Enterprise Grants Program are now open, and close Friday 19 January 2024.
For more information, go to: www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/economic-development/business-and-innovation/act-social-enterprise-grant-program
