Government Grants for Business

There are various government-funded programmes that offer assistance to businesses. Most of the help is provided through the Department of Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).

They include the following schemes:

Enterprise Development Grants (EDG)

This grant aims to assist New Zealand businesses to gain additional skills and abilities to pursue their business development goals by building capability and supporting development initiatives.

The Enterprise Development Grants Programme consists of two components, a Capability Building component and a Market Development component.
Capability Building component

Entrepreneurs, start ups and established businesses can apply for a grant under the Capability Building component to:

• Employ a business mentor (maximum NZTE contribution $3,000 GST inclusive)
• Undertake advanced management or technology-based training (maximum NZTE contribution
$3,000 GST inclusive)
• Engage specialised external advice and expertise on well-defined projects or concepts that lead towards enhanced capability, profitability and international competitiveness
• Undertake some market development activities

The amount of information requested when you apply for this grant is onerous, to say the least. Many a would-be applicant has probably had one look and consigned it to the waste bin. One suspects that so few companies make it through the application process that there may be plenty of funds in the kitty if you do persevere.

Market Development component

Businesses can apply for assistance with the implementation of significant international market development initiatives including expenditure related to:

• Market visits
• In-market representation
• Advertising and promotion
• Marketing materials
• Trade fairs and events
• Market research.

Grants are offered on an up to 50:50 reimbursement basis and while they can be used to fund a wide variety of activity, some costs are ineligible.

Eligibility

• The applicant must have turnover of less than $5 million per year and less than 20 full time equivalent staff
• The maximum amount available per applicant each year (1 July-30 June) is $20,000 GST inclusive, from the date of approval by NZTE
One of the areas eligible for a grant is for E-commerce and e-business strategies which includes the following area of activity:
• Development of a strategy to maximise electronic opportunities for the business - this is at the strategic level only and could involve the development of a business-to-business e-commerce strategy and/or an internal e-business management plan.