header
Inspiring Our Youth
To Realise Their Potential
Back to Newsletters

Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities - April 2020


Would you like to receive this newsletter in your inbox each month?
Subscribe to our Free Business and Infrastructure Grants Newsletters


Welcome to our Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities Newsletter where you will find details of grant and funding programs that are available for the Northern Inland Region for businesses and infrastructure projects.

Due to the number of grants that are available, we send two funding opportunities newsletters a month; one for Business and Infrastructure and another for Community Projects and Award Programs. These newsletters are a free service that we provide, and can you can add the Community Funding Opportunities and Awards Programs newsletter to your subscriptions by filling your details into on the left hand side of our website: www.rdani.org.au

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

Please note the below information is intended as a guide only. Closing dates and other details should be verified using the links provided as they are subject to change by the providers without notice.

Share Your Experience to Help Shape Government Support

We are seeking input from business owners and managers through our Impacts of COVID-19 on Businesses Survey to provide us with solid facts and figures about the experiences of businesses in our region so they can be used to directly inform the Australian and NSW State Governments.

It is vital that we get as much information as possible to help shape our regional approach and the Government’s assistance measures going forward. Taking the time to complete our survey will help get real, accurate information from our region to the Federal Government. We appreciate your time is valuable, and while our survey is comprehensive, it should only take around 15 minutes to complete.

Due to the widespread interest in our Impacts of COVID-19 on Businesses Survey, we have extended the time to submit your input to Sunday the 3rd of May.

Coronavirus (COVID-19), Drought and Bushfire Assistance

To help businesses and individuals affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19) access the available assistance we have created a dedicated Coronavirus Assistance page on our website. This page will be updated as details become available on the recently announced economic stimulus packages from the Australian and NSW Governments.

There is also wide range of assistance available for individuals, businesses and communities that have been affected by the ongoing drought and the recent bushfires. To help you access this support, we have created dedicated Drought Assistance and  Bushfire Assistance pages on our website which are being updated reguarly.

Featured Grants

Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants
Closes: 8th of May 2020 for Stream 2, 18th December 2020 for Stream 1
Value: Dependent on stream applied for
Run By: Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)

This program has two funding streams which, together, will support events, concerts, festivals and visitor attractions in fire affected regions to assist with recovery efforts and encourage international and domestic visitors to come back to the regions

Stream 1 – Will support smaller-scale events (including the promotion of these events), concerts, festivals and/or other visitor attractions such as art installations and tourist walks. Applicants may apply for more than one grant in this stream, up to a total value of $30,000 per applicant. Applications will be assessed as they are received.

Stream 2 – Will support larger events (including the promotion of those events), concerts, festivals and/or other visitor attractions such as art installations and tourist walks. Applicants are advised to make their proposals scalable as they may not receive the full funding amount they are seeking. Applications will be assessed when this stream closes.

Eligible Northern Inland Councils are:

  • Armidale Regional Council - Stream 1 and 2
  • Glen Innes Severn Council - Stream 1 and 2
  • Gwydir Shire Council - Stream 1
  • Inverell Shire Council - Stream 1 and 2
  • Narrabri Shire Council - Stream 1
  • Tamworth Regional Council - Stream 1
  • Tenterfield Shoire Council - Stream 1 and 2
  • Uralla Shire Council - Stream 1
  • Walcha Council - Stream 1 and 2

Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund
Closes: 22nd of May 2020
Value: Up to $400,000
Run By: Australian Communications and Media Authority

The Innovation Fund was established by the Government to support regional and publishers to transition to and compete more successfully in the evolving media environment. The Innovation Fund was announced as part of the Regional and Small Publishers Jobs and Innovation Package.

The objective of the 2020 Round is to support the production of public interest journalism by assisting publishers (which includes content service providers) to stabilise their financial position and increase their revenue so that they are able to operate on a sustainable basis in the medium term.

The grants are designed to assist publishers and content service providers:

  • to increase the sustainability of their news publishing activities (including news gathering, production and distribution) in the short to medium term; or
  • to develop and trial transformational or innovative models for the sustainable provision of public interest journalism and reposition their businesses to adapt to the new media environment in the longer term.

Closing in May

Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants
Closes: 8th of May 2020 for Stream 2, 18th December 2020 for Stream 1
Value: Dependent on stream applied for
Run By: Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)
This program has two funding streams which, together, will support events, concerts, festivals and visitor attractions in fire affected regions to assist with recovery efforts and encourage international and domestic visitors to come back to the regions.

Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund
Closes: 22nd of May 2020
Value: Up to $400,000
Run By: Australian Communications and Media Authority
Funding from the Australian Government to support regional and publishers to transition to and compete more successfully in the evolving media environment.

Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program
Closes: 29th of May 2020
Value: Up to $2 Million for LGAs
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
Aims to increase the productivity and safety of heavy vehicle operations, including through the provision of driver fatigue management rest areas and the enhancement of heavy vehicle networks.

Bridges Renewal Program
Closes: 29th of May 2020
Value: Up to $2 Million for LGAs
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
Aims to upgrade and replace bridges to enhance access for local communities and facilitate higher productivity vehicle access.

Closing Later and Ongoing

Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme
Closes: 30th of June 2021 or when the $12 Million funding allocation is exhausted
Value: Up to $25,000 per farm enterprise
Run By: NSW Government Department of Primary Indsutries, Rural Assistance Authority
Eligible Primary Producers can claim a rebate of 25% of the cost of purchase, delivery and if applicable, the labour cost to engage a person to install water infrastructure for animal welfare needs.

Disaster Recovery Grants
Closes: 31st of July 2020
Value: $10,000 to $100,000
Run By: NSW Government Rural Assistance Authority
Available to eligible primary producers, small businesses, sporting clubs and not for profit organisations, following the declaration of a Natural Disaster.

Special Disaster Grant - Bushfires
Closes: 31st of July 2020
Value: Up to $75,000
Run By: Rural Assistance Authority
Helps to pay for costs of clean-up and other emergency measures including disposing of dead stock, and rebuilding or replacing damaged or destroyed on-farm infrastructure.

Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant
Closes: 31st of July 2020
Value: Up to $40,000
Run By: NSW Government
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.

Before and After School Care Equipment and Facilities Grant Program
Closes: 31st of January 2021
Value: Up to $30,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Supports schools and services to fund equipment and facilities that enable new services to establish and existing services to expand.

1,000 Jobs Package Grant Funding
Closes: 30th of April 2021 or until 1000 allocations
Value: Up to $56,102.78 over two years
Run By: Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Tranche Two provides a subsidy for new jobs for Community Development Program participants in remote Australia to support economic development.

Water Efficiency Program
Closes: 31st of December 2023
Value: Unspevified - Over $1 million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Agriculture
Funding for owners of water rights for at least 3 years in the Murray–Darling Basin to transferring that water to the Commonwealth under a contract to do efficiency works to achieve water savings.

Get Connected Listing for Tourism Businesses
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Website Listing
Run By: Destination NSW
Provides tourism operators with the opportunity to showcase your tourism products on Destination NSW’s consumer websites for free.

Water Infrastructure Loans
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $10 million and over
Run By: Australian Government Regional Investment Corporation
Loans to help fund the construction of major water infrastructure available to only state and territory governments.

AgBiz Drought Loans
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $500,000
Run By: Australian Government Regional Investment Corporation
A concessional 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.

Farm Investment Loans
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $2 Million
Run By: Australian Government Regional Investment Corporation
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.

Drought loans
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $2 Million
Run By: Australian Government Regional Investment Corporation
Concessional loan to help farm businesses in the agriculture, horticulture, pastoral, apiculture, or aquaculture industryto prepare for, manage through, and recover from drought.

Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant
Closes: 30th of September 2020
Value: Up to $100,000
Run By: Wine Australia
Support for producers who add value by encouraging visitors to wine regionsby providing access an annual grant reflective of their eligible physical cellar door sales.

Australian Government's Youth Jobs PaTH
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $11,0000
Run By: Australian Government Job Active
Helps employers find and recruit the right young person for their business by facilitating trials and providing a wage subsidy of up to $10,000 if you hire them.

Restart
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $10,0000
Run By: Australian Government Job Active
Restart is a financial incentive of up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) to encourage businesses to hire and retain mature age employees who are 50 years of age and over.

Defence Global Competitiveness Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $15,000 to $150,000
Run By: Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
The Defence Global Competitiveness Grants will help Australian SMEs to invest in projects that build export capability to build a stronger, more sustainable and globally competitive Australian defence industry.

CSIRO Kick-Start
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $50,000 matched funding
Run By: CSIRO
CSIRO Kick-Start is a new initiative for innovative Australian start-ups and small SMEs, providing funding support and access to CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.

Dreamstarter - Scholarships
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: ING
ING are looking to provide education scholarships for change makers working on an early-stage business that will create positive social impact through trade of a product or service.

Dreamstarter - Grants for Growth
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: ING
Dreamstarter Grants for Growth provides ING Dreamstarter Alumni with access to funding to accelerate the growth of their businesses and increase their positive social impact.

Impact Investment Ready Growth Grant
Closes: Ongoing rounds through the year
Value: Up to $140,000
Run By: Impact Investing Australia
Provides impact businesses and mission-driven organisations with grants for business, financial, legal and other capacity building support from providers to secure investment.

Export Market Development Grants
Closes: Yearly rounds / Varying dates
Value: Up to $150,000
Run By: Austrade
The Export Market Development Grants scheme is a key Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters.and supports a wide range of industries.

On-farm Natural Resource Management Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified matched
Run By: Northern Tablelands Local Land Services
Funding is avaliable to develop projects on-farm and we would like landholders to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to help us identify and support their natural resource priorities.

Newsagents Assistance Fund
Closes: Unspecified
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Industry
The Newsagents Assistance Fund assists eligible agents to update their NSW Lotteries retail image and fit-out to align with the NSW Lotteries brand.

Youth Employment Program
Closes: Unspecified
Value: Support
Run By: NSW Government Department of Industry
Local businesses that provide opportunities for young people benefit from access to job-ready employees with the skills and training they need for their businesses.

Safe and Secure Water Program
Closes: Ongoing until expended
Value: No minimum or maximum, $1 Billion total pool
Run By: NSW Department of Industry
The SSWP will co-fund eligible water and sewerage projects that deliver economic growth in regional NSW through improvements to public health, water security, environmental outcomes and/or social benefits.

Drought Relief Heavy Vehicle Access Program
Closing date: Not Specified - indicated until $15 Million total pool expended
Value: Up to $300,000 per Local Government Area
Run By: NSW Roads and Maritime Services
This program has been established to contribute to the cost of maintenance and minor improvements on council roads and roadsides, where those improvements will contribute to heavy vehicle access, in support of the drought relief freight task.

Regional Investment Attraction Fund
Closes: Undisclosed
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: NSW Government
Grants and interest-free loans targeted at offsetting government levies and duties, such as payroll tax, to eligible businesses that want to invest and grow in regional NSW, which will lead to new jobs.

Relocation Assistance for Skilled Workers
Closes: Undisclosed
Value: Up to $10,000 per worker
Run By: NSW Government
Grants are available to help attract skilled employees to regional NSW businesses operating in eligible industriesto meet the costs of relocating employees, such as for furniture removal and temporary accommodation for up to three months.

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.

Supply Chain Facilitation
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Tailored advice
Run By: Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Provides access to a skilled advisor who will work with you to develop an improvement plan for an identified supply chain opportunity and support you as you implement the 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.

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.

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: Based on individual assessment
Run By: Australian Government Department of Human Services
Provides assistance to farming families experiencing financial hardship. The program focuses on helping farmers make important decisions to improve their long-term financial situation.

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.

Related Pages
Share This Page With Someone
Stay Informed
Subscribe to one or more of our regular email subscriptions, to be kept up to date on news and funding opportunities for the region
Choose Your Subscription(s)
Contact Us
Phone02 6771 0700
Emailrdani@rdani.org.au
Opening Hours 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday
(Except Public Holidays)
Address 143 Marsh Street
Armidale NSW 2350
Postal Address PO Box 72
Armidale NSW 2350
Find Us in Google Maps or Apple Maps
© Copyright 2024 Regional Development Australia - Northern Inland
An Australian Government Initiative