About the Fund
The Victorian Government has committed $3 million from its Building Works Package for the Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund (NACRF), supporting communities as they recover from the economic impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund will benefit local communities and economies in metropolitan Melbourne by developing and revitalising Neighbourhood Activity Centres/Shopping Strips.
The fund is open to 32 councils in Metropolitan Partnerships Regions.
The Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund is accepting applications for grants of up to $100,000 per project, for local infrastructure upgrades, and streetscape and public space improvements in Neighbourhood Activity Centres/Shopping Strips.
The purpose of the Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund is to support councils in managing the immediate challenges associated with the phased opening of business activity and building community confidence in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when safe to do so.
The Fund will deliver jointly funded community improvement and local business initiatives to drive neighbourhood centre renewal and improve amenities and accessibility in metropolitan Melbourne communities.
The objectives of the fund are:
- Support initiatives in (council designated and planned) neighbourhood activity centres that stimulate local business activity; encourage local businesses to return; improvements to the public amenity and accessibility of suburban strip shopping area, when safe to do so.
- Support the implementation of the Victorian Governments 20-minute Neighbourhood policy (particularly supporting projects that demonstrate a similar approach to the pilot sites) and focus on smaller scale approaches to revitalising suburban centres and be delivered in conjunction with local government, business and community sector stakeholders.
The Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund is open to councils in the Metropolitan Partnerships Regions. Grants of up to $100,000 per project are available for local infrastructure upgrades in neighbourhood activity centres. Councils are required to make a co-contribution (financial and/or in-kind) of at least 50 per cent of the grant application amount.
Priority will be given to projects that are investment-ready, demonstrate the need for government assistance, include detailed plans for the space, and deliver strong outcomes for local communities.
Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund - fact sheet PDF, 117.76 KB
Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund - fact sheet DOCX, 637.4 KB
Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund Guidelines (2020) PDF, 282.26 KB
Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund Guidelines (2020) DOCX, 354.3 KB
Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund - Funding Agreement Template PDF, 380.61 KB
Neighbourhood Activity Centre Renewal Fund - Funding Agreement Template DOCX, 241.91 KB