Business and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities - April 2021

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 search tool on our website which is updated with new grants weekly: www.rdani.org.au/grants-funding/search.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.

Featured Grants

Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program
Closes: 31st of July 2021
Value: $14,596 to $40.7699 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications

This program provides funding to Local Councils for local road and community infrastructure projects. The scope of LRCI Program Phase 2 supports a broad range of eligible projects so communities can fund the infrastructure that they need, support businesses and create employment opportunities across their communities.

The LRCI Program Phase 2 aims to continue to assist a community-led recovery from COVID-19 by supporting local jobs, firms, and procurement. It expected that councils will use local businesses and workforces to deliver projects under the LRCI Program where possible to ensure stimulus funding flows into local communities.

Local Councils who have in place an executed Grant Agreement in relation to their ‘Nominal Funding Allocation’ under Phase 1 of the LRCI Program are eligible for Phase 2.

 

Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate
Closes: 30th of June 2022
Value: Up to $1,500
Run By: NSW Government

If you are a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of $1500.

The Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate is open to small businesses which have a total wages bill below the new 2020-21 $1.2 million payroll tax threshold and have a turnover of at least $75,000 per year.

It is available from 1 April 2021 until 30 June 2022, for eligible fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021.

Fees and charges that can be claimed back through the scheme include liquor licences, food authority licences, council rates and outdoor seating fees.

Closing in April

Boosting Female Founders Initiative
Closes: 22nd of April 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: $25,000 to $400,000 as well as mentoring and advice
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Supports female founders of startup businesses to scale their businesses into domestic and global markets.

Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Translation Stream – Food and Beverage
Closes: 27th of April 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1 Million to $20 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Supports food and beverage industry projects that aid the translation of high quality research and ideas into commercial outcomes and support businesses to scale-up and become more competitive and resilient.

Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Integration Stream – Food and Beverage
Closes: 27th of April 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1 Million to $20 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Supports food and beverage industry projects that integrate Australian businesses into domestic and international value chains, propelling their goods and services into new markets

Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Integration Stream – Defence
Closes: 28th of April 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1 Million to $20 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Support projects that integrate Australian businesses into domestic and international value chains, propelling their goods and services into new markets in the defence sector.

Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Translation Stream – Defence
Closes: 28th of April 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1 Million to $20 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
support projects that aid the translation of high quality research and ideas into commercial outcomes and support businesses to scale-up and become more competitive and resilient in the defence sector.

1,000 Jobs Package Grant Funding
Closes: 30th of April 2021 or until 1000 allocations
Value: Up to $56,000 (GST exclusive) over two years
Run By: National Indigenous Australians Agency
Tranche Two provides a subsidy for new jobs for Community Development Program participants in remote Australia to support economic development.

Business Improvement Fund for Residential Aged Care
Closes: 30th of April 2021
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health
Supports providers of residential aged care experiencing financial difficulty, prioritising providers in regional, rural, and remote areas, and small to medium sized providers, with limited access to financial support, that are facing significant financial pressure.

NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund
Closes: 30th of April 2021
Value: Up to $30,000
Run By: Destination NSW
Helps stakeholders create, attract and support exciting business events for regional NSW and to support new business event initiatives.

Closing in May

Wine Export Grant
Closes: 1st of May 2021
Value: Up to $25,000
Run By: Wine Australia
Grants for specific wine export promotion activities aimed at supporting small and medium wine businesses to secure new distribution channels in export markets.

Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Integration Stream – Recycling and Clean Energy
Closes: 5th of May 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1 Million to $20 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Supports projects that integrate Australian businesses into domestic and international value chains for recycling and clean energy.

Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Manufacturing Translation Stream – Recycling and Clean Energy
Closes: 5th of May 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1 Million to $20 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Supports projects that aid the translation of high quality research and ideas into commercial outcomes and support businesses to scale-up and become more competitive and resilient for recycling and clean energy projects.

Regional Job Creation Fund
Closes: 14th of May 2021 - 5:00 pm , or when exhausted
Value: Up to $10 Million
Run By: NSW Department of Regional NSW
Supports existing businesses in regional NSW to grow and encourages interstate or overseas businesses to invest in regional NSW.

Closing in June

Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant
Closes: 29th of June 2021
Value: Up to $40,000
Run By: NSW Government
Subsidises the salary, development and support costs of Aboriginal employees in public service agencies and local government authorities.

NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program
Closes: 30th of June 2021
Value: Up to $2 Million
Run By: NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
The program incentivises local councils to accelerate their assessments of development applications (DAs) and re-zonings to create new development capacity and meet demand for housing and employment over the next decade.

Closing Later and Ongoing

Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program
Closes: 31st of July 2021
Value: $14,596 to $40.7699 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
Provides funding to Local Councils for local road and community infrastructure projects that they need, and in turn support businesses and create employment opportunities across their communities.

Domestic Airports Security Costs Support
Closes: 1st of September 2021 - 5:00 pm
Value: Varies by applicant
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
Assists eligible domestic airports to maintain regulated security screening obligations that must be met regardless of the reduced volume of aviation activity.

Jobs Plus Program
Closes: 30th of June 2022
Value: Payroll Tax releif for up to four years and support
Run By: NSW Government
Supports companies who want to relocate their head offices to NSW, or expand their jobs footprint in NSW that will create 30 new net jobs.

Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate
Closes: 30th of June 2022
Value: Up to $1,500
Run By: NSW Government
A small business fees and charges rebate for sole traders, small business and not-for-profit organisations in NSW.

Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement
Closes: 30th of April 2023
Value: $250,000 to $1 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Supports Australian businesses with domestic or international supply chain opportunities by providing grant funds for building their capacity, skills and capabilities.

Advancing Renewables Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Australian Government: Australian Renewable Energy Agency
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.

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.

Australian Government's Youth Jobs PaTH
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $11,000
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.

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

CSIRO Kick-Start
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $50,000 matched funding
Run By: CSIRO
Funding support and access to CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.

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

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

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.

English Family Foundation - Ingnitor Fund
Closes: Applications are ongoing
Value: Up to $100,000
Run By: English Family Foundation
Supports Australian social enterprise change makers who are finding new and innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing issues within their local communities.

Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Australian Government
Aims to improve the capabilities of small to medium enterprises to become more competitive and grow.

Export Market Development Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $150,000
Run By: Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)
An Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters in a wide range of industries.

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.

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.

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.

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

Incubator Support - New & Existing Incubators
Closes: Applications are ongoing
Value: $26,000 to $500,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
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.

Indigenous Business Australia
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Financial support and advice
Run By: Indigenous Business Australia
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.

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. 

Landing Pads for Start Ups
Closes: Unspecified
Value: Support
Run By: Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade)
Assists market-ready scaleups take their business globalby providing an operational base and customised support for their overseas expansion goals.

New Air Combat Capability - Industry Support Program (NACC-ISP)
Closes: Ongoing until funding expended - Expected to close soon
Value: Matched up to $1 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Provides matched funding to help enter export markets, secure domestic contracts and upskill staff so they can win work with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program.

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme
Closes: 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.

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

Regional Investment Attraction - Investment Concierge
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Support
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.

Regional Skills Relocation Grant
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $10,000 per worker
Run By: NSW Government Department of Regional NSW
Support for the costs of relocating skilled staff from metropolitan centres around Australia to Regional NSW.

Restart
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment
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.

Safe and Secure Water Program
Closes: Ongoing until expended
Value: No minimum or maximum, $1 Billion total pool
Run By: NSW Government
Co-funds 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.

SMART Projects and Supply Chains
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Tailored advice
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
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.

Tradex Scheme
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Varies based on the the goods imported
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
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.

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

Bushfire Cleanup Program
Closes: Unknown
Value: Physical Works
Run By: Service NSW

Business Connect
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Advice and Support
Run By: NSW Government
A dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted advice to help you start or grow your small business.

Disaster Relief Loans - Primary producers
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $130,000
Run By: Rural Assistance Authority
Low interest loans for primary producers who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage,

Small business rebate
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $500
Run By: SafeWork NSW
Provides up to $500 to small business owners and sole traders in NSW who buy and install equipment to make their workplace safer.

Ladies in Livestock Program
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Northern Tablelands Local Land Services
Delivers hands-on, practical skills to women as independent land stewards with a keen interest in agriculture, to work and make decisions on properties.

Disaster Relief Loans - Small business
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $130,000
Run By: Rural Assistance Authority
Low interest loans for small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage,

Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $15,000
Run By: Rural Assistance Authority
A transport subsidy is available to eligible farmers who are affected by a declared natural disaster event.