Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities - August 2018

Welcome to our new Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities Newsletter where you will find details of selected grant submissions from around the region for Business and Infrastructure projects.

Due to the number of grants that are available, we now send two funding opportunities newsletters a month; one for Business and Infrastructure and another for Community Projects and Award Programs, rather than the one combined newsletter. 

We wish you all the best with the Funding Opportunities below and if you are looking for a grant between newsletters, have a look at the grants area of our website which is updated weekly: www.rdani.org.au/our-region/grants-and-funding-opportunities.php

If you need some facts and figures for your applications, a range of data for our region is also available on our website here: www.rdani.org.au/our-region/regional-data.php

Featured Grants

Drought Communities Programme — Extension
Closing date: To Be Advised
Value: Up to $1 Million per Local Council
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities

The Drought Communities Programme (DCP) supports communities in the most drought-affected regions of Australia. Funding is available to eligible councils for local infrastructure projects and other drought-relief activities. Project funding is intended to provide short-term support, including by boosting local employment and procurement, and addressing social and community needs.

On 19 August 2018, the Australian Government announced it would boost the Drought Communities Programme by $75 million and provide initial support of $1 million to 60 eligible councils in 2018-19. All twelve councils in the Northern Inland are included.

Eligible councils are able to select projects that provide the greatest support to their communities, including infrastructure and other activities. Projects must be in addition to the normal planned activities of the council. Further guidance will be available in the program guidelines.

Projects could include:

• Employing local contractors to undertake repairs and maintenance
• Upgrading or building new community facilities
• Holding events and undertaking drought-relief activities
• Carting potable water into communities for drinking and bathing.

Community Sport Infrastructure
Closes: 14th of September 2018
Value: Up to $500,000
Run By: Ausport

Supporting small to medium scale projects up to $500,000 to improve local community sport infrastructure which will support greater community participation in sport and physical activity and/or offer safer and more inclusive community sporting hubs.

Community sport infrastructure generates more than $16.2 billion worth of social, health and economic benefits each year, according to a landmark report.

Sport Australia, the Australian Government’s lead agency for sport and physical activity, has released The Value of Community Sport Infrastructure, a report produced in conjunction with KPMG and La Trobe University.

Successful grants will support projects such as:

• Upgrades to playing surfaces, including multi-sport upgrades and resurfacing that supports increased use;
• Building, expanding and/or upgrading change rooms, particularly for girls and women and officials’ areas;
• External entry/exit accessible amenities;
• Improved sports lighting and safety lighting, including installation of solar panels;
• Improvements to ground and court capacity that support increased use;
• Improvements to spectator amenities; and
• Internal/external amenity uplift.

Additional Drought Assistance for Farmers

With rainfall in June and July lower than was expected and putting 99% of New South Wales into drought, the Federal and NSW State Governments have both announced additional assistance for farmers.
Federal Government funding for drought assistance now totals over $1.8 Billion.

The Federal Government has extended their Farm Household Allowance to include 8,000 additional farming families by increasing the net asset threshold cap from $2.6 Million to $5 Million. The allowance will now also include two lump sum supplementary payments in addition to the fortnightly payment which totals around $16,000 a year. The payments will be made on the 1st of September 2018 and the 1st of March 2019. Couples will receive up to an additional $12,000, single households will receive up to $7,200. The allowance has also now been made easier to apply for.

The additional funding from the Federal Government also includes:

• Assistance to Local Councils through the extension of the Drought Communities Program
• Immediate expense deduction for infrastructure to store feed, such as silos and hay sheds instead of depreciating over three years.
• Doubling the cap for interest free loans from $1 million to $2 million and allowing farmers with existing loans under the scheme to refinance to benefit from the 5 year interest free period.
• A special drought round of the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund
• An extra $5 million in the Rural Financial Counselling Service, which will provide additional support for farmers - particularly those applying for the FHA for the first time.
• $15 million to help the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal with small grants for not-for-profit community groups for locally driven targeted support.
• $11.4 million in mental health support initiatives including:
• Additional funding for Primary Health Networks in drought affected areas to cope with increased demand.
• Those accessing counselling via Skype will no longer have their first appointment in person. This recognises the long distances and the cost of travel in money and time for rural people.
• An Empowering Communities program that allows local communities to tailor local mental health responses to their needs. Eligible communities can apply for funds up to $1 million for community-led initiatives that improve mental health and community resilience.
• Funding will be provided to ReachOUT to go out into drought affected communities and raise awareness of their youth and children’s counselling services group.

The NSW Government has announced an additional $500 Million of assistance, including approximately $190 million for the introduction of Drought Transport Subsidies. These subsidies cover up to 50 per cent of the full cost of transporting fodder, water for stock and livestock to pasture, slaughter or sale.  Up to $20,000 per farm business is available and will also be back-dated for freight expenses incurred since January 1, 2018, allowing farmers who de-stocked earlier in the year to also receive assistance.

The additional funding from the NSW Government also includes:

• Approximately $100 million for cutting the cost of farming fees and charges – by waiving Local Land Services rates, waiving fixed water charges in rural and regional areas, and waiving class one agricultural vehicle registration costs, among other initiatives, and
• $150 million to bolster the Farm Innovation Fund (FIF) infrastructure program;
• Counselling and mental health;
• Critical services in regional communities including transporting water and drought related road upgrades and repairs;
• Animal welfare and stock disposal.

Completing the applications to take advantage of the variety of support that is available can be overwhelming, and the NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service is available to provide support. There are councellors located throughout the Northern Inland, and their contact details are available here.

Assistance for Mental and Physical Health and a Positive Future
The stress of ongoing drought is not just financial, it takes a significant mental and physical toll as well. Support is available through a wide variety of organisations, allowing the right help to be found. The NSW Government provides assistance through the Rural Resilience Program and the NSW Department of Primary Industries has an index of other support in their Wellbeing section of the DroughtHub.

Further details on the support available is provided on the drought assistance page in our website here.

Closing in September

Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants
Closing date: 13 September 2018 5:00 pm AEST
Next Round: Expected in early 2019
Value: Matched funding from $100,000 up to $3 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
CRC-P grants support short term industry-led collaborations to develop important new technologies, products and services that deliver tangible outcomes.

Coles Nurture Fund
Annual Round Closes: 14th of September 2018 5pm AEDT
Value: Up to $500,000
Run By: Coles Supermarkets Australia
Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (Coles) has launched an initiative to assist existing small to medium Australian producers, farmers and manufacturers to innovate and grow their business.

Community Sport Infrastructure
Closes: 14th of September 2018
Value: Up to $500,000
Run By: Ausport
Supporting small to medium scale projects up to $500,000 to improve local community sport infrastructure which will support greater community participation in sport and physical activity and/or offer safer and more inclusive community sporting hubs.

Safer Communities Fund Round 3 - Infrastructure Grants
Closing date: 25th of September 2018 5:00 pm AEST
Value: Up to $1 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
The Safer Communities Fund provides grants of up to $1 million to community organisations and local governments for local crime prevention and security infrastructure activities.

Closing in October

Landing Pads
Closing date: 8th of October 2018
Future Rounds Close: 4th of February and 20th of May 2019
Value: In-kind support including 90 day residency at an international co-working space
Run By: Australia Unlimited and Austrade
The Landing Pads program provides market-ready startups and scaleups with potential for rapid growth a cost effective option to land and expand into major global innovations hubs around the world.
 

Stronger Communities Program
Closes: 11th of October 2018 5:00 pm AEDT
Value: $2,500 to $20,000 Matched funding
Run By: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
The Stronger Communities Programme (the program) supports the Australian Government’s commitment to deliver social benefits in communities across Australia. Round 4 of the program will provide each electorate has total funding of up to $150,000 that can be allocated to successful applications. In consultation with their community, each MP must identify potential applicants and projects in their electorate and invite them to apply for a grant. MPs may require a earlier submission date than October.

Closing Later and Ongoing

Landing Pads
Closing date: 8th of October 2018
Future Rounds Close: 4th of February and 20th of May 2019
Value: In-kind support including 90 day residency at an international co-working space
Run By: Australia Unlimited and Austrade
The Landing Pads program provides market-ready startups and scaleups with potential for rapid growth a cost effective option to land and expand into major global innovations hubs around the world.

Wine Export Grants
Closing date: Ongoing until 1st of May 2020
Value: Up to $25,000
Run By: Wine Australia
Wine Export Grants are offered for specific wine export promotion activities aimed at supporting small and medium wine businesses to secure new distribution channels in China, Hong Kong, Macau and/or the USA.

Regional Filming Fund
Closing date: Four weeks prior to the start of filming in Regional NSW
Value: up to 35% of the budgeted NSW Regional Spend to a maximum of $100,000
Run By: Screen NSW
Provides Australian film projects that are filming in regional NSW with funding of up to $100,000 to offset the costs associated with shooting a film in regional areas.

Managing Farm Risk Program
Closing date: Ongoing
Value: Up to $2,500
Run By: Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
The Managing Farm Risk Program provides rebates for advice and assessments to help farmers prepare and apply for a new insurance policy that assists with the management of drought and other production and market risks.

Regional Growth Loans
Closing date: Unspecified
Value: $200,000 to $500,000
Run By: NSW Government
Regional Growth Loans are direct, interest-free loans for emerging and fast-growth SMEs in regional NSW that are scaling quickly and creating jobs, but face barriers in accessing finance from traditional lenders.

Supplier Improvement Plan
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Tailored advice to create a Supplier Improvement Plan
Run By: Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
A Supplier Improvement Plan will give you: access to, and active engagement with, a highly qualified and experienced Business Adviser or Business Facilitator over 12 months; independent guidance and insight about your customer’s needs and requirements; a customised action plan with recommendations for improvement; and assistance to implement the recommendations in your action plan.

Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Australian Government: Australian Renewable Energy Agency
ARENA’s Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund Program fosters skills and management capability. It encourages investment in innovative Australian renewable energy companies to strengthen their chance of success.

Advancing Renewables Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Australian Government: Australian Renewable Energy Agency
ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program supports a broad range of development, demonstration and pre-commercial deployment projects that can deliver affordable and reliable renewable energy for Australian families and businesses.

Clean Energy Innovation Fund
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Clean Energy Finance Corp
The Innovation Fund targets technologies and businesses that have passed beyond the research and development stage, and which can benefit from early stage seed or growth capital to help them progress to the next stage of their development.

Murray Darling Basin - Regional Business Accelorator Program
Closing date: Unknown
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
The objective of the program is to help enterprises in the NSW Murray Darling Basin region to increase their sales and create new jobs. The program recognises innovation in marketing and adoption of new technology as key enablers of regional business growth. Contact the Department's Office of Regional Development in Tamworth on 02 6766 1360 or ORDTamworth@dpc.nsw.gov.au to apply.

Black Spot Program
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Department of Infrastuructre and Regional Development
By funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at dangerous locations, the programme reduces the risk of road crashes.

Community Broadcasting Foundation Emergency Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Community Broadcasting Foundation
Funds are available to assist community stations to replace damaged or destroyed essential equipment and related immediate expenses in order to restore basic transmission following an unforeseen event.

Infrastructure Grants
Closes: Various dates throughout the year
Value: $10,000 to $300,000 Based on project category
Run By: NSW Department of Industry, Liquor and Gaming
Liquor & Gaming NSW offers grants to communities across NSW to support the building, renovation and fitout of infrastructure. Funding is available for sport and recreation, arts and cultural infrastructure, and projects that enhance facilities used to shelter communities and provide emergency services.

Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Australian Government
The Programme aims to improve the capabilities of small to medium enterprises to become more competitive and grow. The Programme is now accepting applications for Business Evaluations, and Business Growth Grants under the Business Management stream.

Jobs for NSW
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: NSW Department of Industry
Jobs for NSW is a private sector-led and NSW Government-backed initiative which aims to make the NSW economy as competitive as possible and therefore help create new jobs across the State.

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme
Closing date: Ongoing
Value: Income Assistance and Advice
Run By: Australian Government Department of Employment
NEIS is a program delivered by a network of 21 providers who provide individualised help for job seekers to become self-employed business owners.

New Air Combat Capability - Industry Support Program (NACC-ISP)
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Matched up to $1 million
Run By: The Departments of Defence and Industry, Innovaiton and Science
Provides Australian businesses and research organisations with matched funding of up to $1 million for Projects to help them enter export markets, secure domestic contracts and upskill their staff so they can win work with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.

Farm Business Skills Professional Development Program
Closes: Funding will be available from 2 November 2015 until 30 June 2020
Value: Up to $5,000
Run By: NSW Department of Primary Industries, Rural Assistance Authority
As part of the NSW Government's Drought Strategy, a Farm Business Skills Professional Development Program has been developed to support farm business in all conditions, but particularly in relation to preparing for and responding to drought.

Indigenous Business Australia
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Financial support and advice
Run By: Indigenous Business Australia
IBA assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to access the skills, knowledge and resources required to start and grow viable and sustainable businesses.

Innovation Connections
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $50,000
Run By: AusIndustry
Provides small and medium sized businesses with access to expert technology advice to address technology and knowledge gaps, and collaborate with the research sector in developing new ideas with commercial potential.

Farm Household Allowance
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $50,000
Run By: AusIndustry
Provides small and medium sized businesses with access to expert technology advice to address technology and knowledge gaps, and collaborate with the research sector in developing new ideas with commercial potential. Support includes up to $50,000 in matched funding to work on collaborative projects.

Arts and Cultural Development Program
Closes: Applications close on various dates
Valuation: Dependant on program chosen
Run By: NSW Goverment Create NSW
Create NSW offers direct funding to organisations, artists, practitioners and arts and cultural workers through the Arts and Cultural Development Program (ACDP).

TechVouchers
Closes: Applications are ongoing
Value: Partnership creation and up to $15,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Industry
Innovate NSW TechVouchers (TV) assists technology SMEs to collaborate with a NSW research organisation to overcome a technical challenge or test a new technology.

Incubator Support - New & Existing Incubators
Closes: Applications are ongoing
Value: $26,000 to $500,000
Run By: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’
Provides new and existing business incubators with grants of up to $500,000 to assist Australian start-ups develop the capabilities required to succeed in international markets.

Incubator Support - Expert-In-Residence
Closes: Applications are ongoing
Value: $5,000 to $100,000
Run By: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’
Provides business incubators with grants to access top quality research, managerial and technical talent through incoming and outgoing secondments of national or international experts.

Tradex Scheme
Closes:Ongoing
Value: Varies based on the the goods imported
Run By: The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
The Tradex Scheme provides an upfront exemption from Customs duty and GST for eligible goods imported to Australia that are then exported within one year or other approved period.

Regional Tourism Product Development Program
Closes: 30 June 2019
Value: $15,000 to $150,000
Run By: Destination NSW
Regional Tourism Product Development funding is available for new accommodation projects, infrastructure projects, visitor signposting and new attractions and experiences.

Regional Cooperative Tourism Marketing Program
Closes: 30 June 2019
Value:  $100,000 to $500,000
Run By: Destination NSW
Regional Cooperative Tourism Marketing Program is available to undertake a Cooperative Tourism Marketing Program which will be led by Destination NSW.