Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities - July 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

Landing Pads Program
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. Five Landing Pads have been established in San Francisco, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, Berlin and Singapore.

Landing Pads provide market-ready startups and scaleups with:

• a ninety day residency in a co-working space to help them grow their business by facilitating in-market business development, introductions to investors and mentor networks and strategic partnership opportunities
• business services and in-market learnings from local and international experts
• access to a curated community that supports Australian entrepreneurs who want to go global via shared insights and collaboration opportunities, and
• assistance post residency with business advice to help them continue to grow their business.

Applications are now open for all Landing Pads.

Connecting Country Communities Fund
Closing date: 15th of August 2018
Run By: NSW Government

To invest in communications infrastructure and deliver improved regional voice and data connectivity. This fund will build and upgrade mobile base stations, connect businesses to global markets and schools with innovative learning resources. Valued at $50 million, the Connecting Country Communities Fund incorporates the Mobile Black Spots Program and the Regional Digital Connectivity Program.

Under the Mobile Black Spot Program, The NSW Government has committed more than $39 million from the Connecting Country Communities Fund to assist mobile network carriers with the cost of building mobile base stations. This investment will lead to the greatest increase in mobile coverage to regional and remote communities delivered by a single public funding program in the history of Australian mobile communications.

Under the Regional Digital Connectivity Program, the NSW Government is working with the telecommunications industry to identify opportunities to use existing government assets and install new infrastructure to provide more consistent access to high-speed internet services in regional NSW. The RDC Program aims to enable digital connectivity in the regions that is comparable to the quality of services available in metropolitan areas of the state.

If you live or work in regional NSW and experience regular problems with mobile phone coverage and/or digital connectivity, complete the questionnaire on the available on the NSW Government website here or call 1300 679 673, by 15 August 2018. This information will be provided to the NSW Telco Authority and service providers for planning and investment to improve mobile coverage and internet access across regional NSW.

Resources for Regions
Closes: Round 6 closes 23rd of July 2018
Value: Mimimum of  $1 million up to an unspecified amount
Run By: NSW Government

Resources for Regions aims to deliver improved local infrastructure to mining-related communities and improve economic growth and productivity in NSW.

Resources for Regions is for projects that promote the development of economic and social infrastructure:

Economic infrastructure includes roads, rail, facilities that improve the movement of freight, airports, and local water and sewerage projects and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and businesses.

Social infrastructure includes recreational facilities, childcare services and other infrastructure related to the delivery of community services.

The minimum grant amount is $1 million and there is no maximum grant amount. All projects must have a minimum financial co-contribution of 25 per cent of the total grant amount. The co-contribution for the project must be from sources other than the NSW Government and commitments must be confirmed before detailed applications are assessed.

An exemption from the minimum 25 per cent co-contribution may be granted where a project is located in a disadvantaged area of NSW. The program guidelines contain more information on this exemption.

Drought Assistance for Farmers

The Australian and NSW Governments have a range of funding opportunities and support programs to help farmers through these tough times.

Australian Government Assistance:

•     The Regional Investment Corporation
•     The Managing Farm Risk Program
•     Farm Household Allowance
•     Pest and Weed Management
•     Free financial counselling through the Rural Financial Counselling Service.
•     Tax Measures

NSW State Government Assistance:

•     The online DroughtHub
•     Farm Innovation Fund
•     Drought Assistance Fund,
•     Funding for additional co-ordinators for the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health and the National Association for Loss and Grief.
•     Farm Business Skills Professional Development Program
•     The installation of three new Doppler radar weather stations in Western NSW

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 drought assistance page in our website here.

Closing in July

Resources for Regions
Closes: Round 6 closes 23rd of July 2018
Value: Mimimum of  $1 million up to an unspecified amount
Run By: NSW Government
Resources for Regions aims to deliver improved local infrastructure to mining-related communities and improve economic growth and productivity in NSW.

Closing in August

Business Partnerships Platform
Closing date: 10th of August 2018 11am AEST
Value: $100,000 to $500,000
Run By: Australian Government Department Foreign Affairs and Trade

Engaging the private sector is at the cornerstone of Australia’s modernised aid program, supporting economic growth, incomes and jobs. The Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) contributes directly to accelerating Australia’s collaboration with business to address development challenges.

Connecting Country Communities Fund
Closing date: 15th of August 2018
Run By: NSW Government
To invest in communications infrastructure and deliver improved regional voice and data connectivity. This fund will build and upgrade mobile base stations, connect businesses to global markets and schools with innovative learning resources. Valued at $50 million, the Connecting Country Communities Fund incorporates the Mobile Black Spots Program and the Regional Digital Connectivity Program.

Community Broadcasting Development and Operation Grants
Closing date: 27th of August 2018 2pm AEST
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: Community Broadcasting Foundation
Development & Operations grants aim to assist the ongoing development of community broadcasting throughout Australia. This grant category aims to maintain, expand and/or strengthen the operations and broadcast capabilities of community broadcasting stations through support for core operations, support for development projects and support for necessary infrastructure.

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.