Business Grants

The Physical Sciences Fund (PSF) is a $3.5 million, competitive technology development and commercialisation program funded by the NSW Government. 

The objectives of the PSF are:

• improve commercialisation opportunities for NSW-based start-ups and businesses
• provide financial support to progress the development of new and innovative devices and systems across the branches of the physical sciences and engineering, including physics, chemistry, astronomy and the earth sciences.
• to realise benefits from innovation in NSW

The intended outcomes of the PSF are:

• help promising start-ups develop their technologies, to the point they attract future funding and investment
• support the growth of innovative global companies headquartered in NSW.
• deliver social, economic, and/or environmental benefits in NSW.

The NSW Government is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and this will require supporting industry to decarbonise. Critical to enabling this is the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 (the Net Zero Plan). The Net Zero plan will fast-track emissions reductions over the next decade to combat climate change, grow the economy, create jobs and attract investment.

In its 2023 budget, the NSW Government announced $480 million in funding to boost the net zero manufacturing initiative (the Initiative), which is a key part of the Net Zero Plan. The Initiative builds on from the work of the Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program (NZIIP) released in 2021 which includes Clean Technology Innovation (CTI) as one of 3 key focus areas.

Clean Technology Innovation has allocated $2.5 million in this round for technical and commercial viability studies of a project or product to make informed decisions before progressing with technology trials.

Funding is available for businesses preparing to commercially manufacture low carbon products in NSW. This stream will fund specific development activities that enable a financial investment decision to establish a manufacturing facility.

The low carbon product manufacturing - project development stream is part of the net zero manufacturing initiative and will invest in project development activities to help businesses reach a financial investment decision for a new facility that manufactures low carbon products.

The initiative plays a pivotal role in achieving NSW's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 through the following 4 objectives:

• drive economic growth across NSW - increase economic activities by providing funding for new or expanded low carbon manufacturing facilities.
• increase investment and employment in new low carbon industries - attract more investors to engage in the low carbon manufacturing sectors, leading to more job opportunities. 
• support a diverse, self-sufficient, resilient and competitive low carbon manufacturing sector - foster a dynamic and robust economic landscape, reduce dependency on a single sector, and promote the export of low carbon products and technologies.
• establish new industrial facilities and advanced manufacturing capabilities to help decarbonise NSW’s economy - facilitate the establishment and development of low carbon manufacturing with advanced capabilities, contributing to the overall reduction of NSW's economy's carbon footprint.

Moree Plains Shire Council is seeking to support start-ups and existing small businesses within the Shire under the Small Business Fund Program. Eligible small businesses which employ up to 20 employees will be able to apply for a one-off maximum payment of up to $5,000. The funds can be used for various business development purposes as outlined in the guidelines, from signage/façade improvements to marketing initiatives.

Who Can Apply?

1. The business must be located within Moree Shire Plains Shire with a registered ABN (or ACN) and has traded for at least 6 months.
2. An applicant must be over the age of 18.
3. The applicant must be a business and not a not-for-profit organisation. Not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for financial assistance under Council’s Public Donations Fund.

Are you working in the aged care sector and have a problem in your workplace? Do you need support to find a solution? The free Innovator Training Program is designed to provide you or your team with tools and skills to use available knowledge and evidence to solve a problem in your workplace.

By joining the Innovator Training Program (ITP), ‘Innovators’ will receive dedicated training to implement changes based on available research evidence, and shape a solution that is appropriate for local settings and organisations.

The training program provides individuals or teams with the skills and knowledge to:

• Understand the components of a problem
• Find best-practice evidence to solve the problem
• Manage change and innovation within the workplace
• Measure if the change has made a difference.

The objective of the program is to incentivise voluntary uptake of ADS-B equipment in Australian– registered aircraft operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to improve safety and efficiency for Australian airspace users.

The intended outcome of the program is improved safety and efficiency of Australian airspace, through extension of ADS-B technology to the Australian VFR aircraft fleet to provide:

• better situational awareness for pilots through improved electronic visibility of nearby airborne VFR aircraft
• enhanced search and rescue capabilities through improved air traffic information
• air traffic controllers with additional and accurate automated aircraft position information of VFR aircraft
  

The program funds two classes of eligible ADS-B equipment (see Appendix A):

• installed ADS-B equipment that air traffic controllers can use for aircraft separation purposes (referred to as ADS-B), or
• portable ADS-B equipment for local electronic traffic information purposes (referred to as ADS-B EC).

The grant amount will be up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenditure (grant percentage). The maximum grant amount is $5,000 per eligible aircraft. Only one grant per aircraft and per device is permitted. You can apply for multiple grants if you own more than one eligible aircraft. A grant may be made for each eligible aircraft for an ADS-B or an ADS-B EC, but not both

The On Farm Connectivity Program (the program) will run over 2 years from 2023-24 to 2024-25. The program is an election commitment announced as part of Labor’s Plan for a Better Future. This program forms part of the Better Connectivity for Rural and Regional Australia Plan (Better Connectivity Plan) and assists primary producers to take advantage of digital agribusiness solutions to boost productivity and improve safety.

The objectives of the program are:

• extend digital connectivity and take advantage of advanced farming technology
• enhance a primary producers’ capacity to implement digital agribusiness solutions through improved connectivity
• capitalise on the agricultural sector’s potential for increased productivity and growth
• support access to new communications equipment by offsetting some of the cost.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• increased investment in equipment to support operations of the agricultural sector
• increased efficiency, competitiveness, productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector
• improved safety on farm
• increased use of advanced farming technology
• improved knowledge of advanced farming technology and digital literacy.

Eligible Primary Producers can only access the program (and rebate) through an Eligible Equipment Supplier.

Apply now for a metering plan implementation grant and receive up to $100,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of installing an energy metering and monitoring system. 

The objectives of this funding are to:

• improve energy performance in NSW businesses.
• enable businesses to identify, prepare and verify energy and emissions reduction projects.
• provide robust data to site managers to make informed investment decisions that help achieve net zero emissions objectives.
• demonstrate the link between energy metering and monitoring systems and energy and cost savings.

The Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant (EDAEG) adopts a number of strategies to develop and support Aboriginal people through the creation of training and employment opportunities. Promoting diversity, innovation and service responsiveness in the NSW workforce, the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant subsidises the salary, development and support costs of Aboriginal employees in public service agencies and local government authorities.

Grant Elements

• Permanent Ongoing Employment – $20,000 up to $40,000 to support the creation of permanent employment.
• Temporary (Term Employment) Secondment – $20,000 up to $40,000 (dependant on the term of position) to support a temporary position of up to 12 months that offers significant skill development for a permanent employee.
• School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships – $10,000 one off payment to support school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
• Post School Element - $10,000 up to $20,000 (Part - Time or Full- Time Employment Status) to support the continuation of employment for a learner who successfully completed a High School Certificate (HSC, Year 12) in the previous calendar year.

Small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will be allowed an additional 20% tax deduction for external training courses delivered to employees by registered training providers.

The expenditure must be:

• for the provision of training to employees of your business, either in-person in Australia, or online
• charged, directly or indirectly, by a registered external training provider that is not you or an associate of yours
• already deductible for your business under taxation law
• incurred within a specified period (between 7:30 pm AEDT or by legal time in the ACT on 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2024).

The bonus deduction is available for expenditure for the provision of training to one or more employees of your business. The training provider must meet certain registration criteria for the bonus deduction.

Small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will be allowed an additional 20% tax deduction to support their digital operations and digitise their operations.

The boost applies to eligible expenditure incurred between 7:30 pm AEDT on 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2023. The boost is for business expenses and depreciating assets and is capped at $100,000 of expenditure per income year. You can receive a maximum bonus deduction of $20,000 per income year.

To access the small business technology investment boost, your business needs to meet the standard aggregated annual turnover rules (with an increased $50 million threshold).

The expenditure must:

• already be deductible for your business under taxation law
• be incurred between 7:30 pm AEDT 29 March 2022 and 30 June 2023.

If the expenditure is on a depreciating asset, the asset must be first used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose by 30 June 2023.

Eligible expenditure may include, but is not limited to, business expenditure on:

• digital enabling items – computer and telecommunications hardware and equipment, software, internet costs, systems and services that form and facilitate the use of computer networks
• digital media and marketing – audio and visual content that can be created, accessed, stored or viewed on digital devices, including web page design
• e-commerce – goods or services supporting digitally ordered or platform-enabled online transactions, portable payment devices, digital inventory management, subscriptions to cloud-based services and advice on digital operations or digitising operations, such as advice about digital tools to support business continuity and growth
• cyber security – cyber security systems, backup management and monitoring services.

From 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024, the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System will provide broad support to the economy through wage subsidies for eligible employers in priority occupations. Priority occupations are those listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

The objective of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program is to contribute a highly skilled and relevant Australian workforce that supports economic sustainability and competitiveness.

This is achieved by encouraging:

• genuine opportunities for skills-based training and development of employees; and
• people to enter into skills-based training through an Australian Apprenticeship.

The Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program contains a range of payments. Eligibility criteria apply to all Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives payments. Further information regarding eligibility can be obtained from your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider.

Support through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program is also provided to employers of Australian Apprentices working towards a Priority Occupation. The eligible Priority Occupations are Aged Care, Child Care, Disability Care Workers and Enrolled Nurses.

There are a range of financial and non-financial supports available, including:

• Commencement payments
• Retention payment
• Recommencement payment
• Completion payment
• Wage subsidy
• Identified skill shortage payment
• Assistance for apprentices with a disability

Rural GPs providing unsupervised anaesthetics, obstetrics, surgery and/or emergency medicine may be eligible for the Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) to help maintain and update your skills.

The Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) provides financial assistance to GPs who provide procedural and/or emergency medicine services in unsupervised settings in rural and remote areas. This government funding supports GPs with access to relevant educational activities to maintain or update their procedural and/or emergency medicine skills.

Procedural GPs can receive up to $20,000 per financial year, and GPs providing hospital-based emergency services can receive up to $6000 per financial year. Additional funding of $6000 per financial year is available for eligible GPs providing emergency mental health services.

Reopening of the Bin Trim Equipment Rebates Program for eligible NSW businesses, councils, and organisations. $6 million has been allocated to continue the initiative for three years until 30 June 2027, or until all funding is used.

Rebates up to $50,000 are being offered to cover up to 50% of the cost of small-scale, on-site equipment or technology that avoids, reduces, reuses, or recycles waste. The initiative is aimed at supporting businesses to transition to a circular economy.

Some examples of equipment and technologies that may be funded include but are not limited to:

• balers
• briquette presses
• bulk bag stands and bulk bags
• cardboard perforator
• commercial worm farms
• compactors
• glass crushers
• granulators
• organics rapid decomposition units (where output is sent to a licenced composting facility)
• plastic injection moulders
• shredders
• smart scales and other food waste monitoring equipment
• source separation bins, wheelie bins, skip bins and other bin equipment – with bin signs and stickers
• trolleys to transport waste and maximise waste separation and diversion.

Businesses applying for the Rebates Program must:

• have a commercial and industrial (C&I) waste service at a site in NSW
• have a valid ABN and employ one or more full time employees in NSW, and
• send C&I waste to landfill in NSW.

Businesses can include entities that are registered charities, not-for-profits, public entities (including schools and hospitals), and government organisations.

You can only apply for concessional this loan if your small business is currently or has been supplying goods or services relating to primary production to farm businesses in an affected area. This loan is not available to farm businesses.

The loan is for ten years and has no fees, 2 years interest free, 3 years interest only and 5 years principal and interest.

It may be used for:

• refinance your debt
• pay suppliers
• pay for operating expenses
• pay salaries, wages and rent

The Impact Investment Ready Growth Grant provides impact businesses and mission-driven organisations with grants of up to $140,000 for business, financial, legal and other capacity building support from providers to secure investment.

Growth Grants were created in recognition of the potential for impact investing to change the way Australia addresses social issues and the important role that access to capital can play in delivering better outcomes for people and communities. They support enterprises that are high growth, can deliver positive social outcomes and have the potential to secure capital investment.

The Newsagents Assistance Fund assists eligible agents to update their NSW Lotteries retail image and fit-out to align with the NSW Lotteries brand.

The Newsagents Assistance Fund is available to NSW Lotteries Agents that were active on 30 January 2015

Trial a young person to find out if they're the right fit for your business and get $1000 to help cover the costs of the trial. During the trial, you don't pay the young person. Instead, the Australian Government gives them $200 a fortnight on top of their income support and covers their insurance.

Businesses can also receive up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) through a Youth Bonus wage subsidy if they hire an eligible young person between 15 and 24 years of age.

The young person must:

• be a fully eligible participant, commenced with a jobactive or Transition to Work provider
• have received employment services from a provider (jobactive, Transition to Work, Disability Employment Services or Community Development Programme provider) continuously for the last six months
• have mutual obligation requirements at the time they commence in the wage subsidised job
• not been in a pre-existing employment relation with you in the previous six months
• not be an immediate family member.

Concessional loan to help farm businesses in the agriculture, horticulture, pastoral, apiculture, or aquaculture industryto prepare for, manage through, and recover from drought.

The loan is for ten years and has no fees, 2 years interest free, 3 years interest only and 5 years principal and interest.

It may be used for:

• refinance your debt
• pay for operating expenses or capital
• access new debt for operating expenses and capital

You can apply for this loan if you solely or mainly sell products into supply chains that are interstate or outside Australia, or plan to in the future.

It may be used for:

• improve long-term strength, resilience and profitability
• diversify your markets
• ​refinance existing debt
• prepare for, manage through or recover from drought
• access new debt for operating expenses and capital