Business, Industry and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities - August 2023

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 the subscription form in the footer 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.

Featured Grants

Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme - 2023
Closes: 30th of September 2023
Value: Up to $20,000
Run By: Transport for NSW

CPTIGS provides subsidies to support the construction or upgrade of bus stop infrastructure (generally owned and maintained by local councils) across country NSW. The Scheme aims to maximise benefits to country passengers through supporting:

• more accessible passenger transport, focusing on better connections between bus stops and surrounding communities;
• an increase in the use of passenger transport in country areas through improved awareness of bus stop locations, kerbside information and improved security (e.g. tactile ground indicators and lighting); and
• the development of minor infrastructure  to complement passenger service development.

Funding is allocated regionally to facilitate an equitable distribution of the grant support and projects.

All Northern Inland LGAs are eligible for this program.

The Scheme provides subsidies for improvements at:

• regular bus stops
• NSW TrainLink coach stops
• bus stops adjacent to the entry/exit points of schools
• bus stops that support other modes of transport, including flexible transport options

Regional Skills Relocation Grant
Closes: 15th of December 2023
Value: Up to $12,500 per worker
Run By: NSW Government Department of Regional NSW

This grant assists regional NSW businesses in identified industries attract skilled and specialised employees from NSW metropolitan areas, interstate or internationally, to regional NSW.

Eligible costs covered by this grant, include the following relocation expenses:

• furniture removal including removalist services or trailer/truck or ute hire to relocate the employee’s home/residence
• pet boarding for up to three months
• travel for employee and immediate family to relocate
• temporary accommodation for up to three months, including hotel, motel, Airbnb and boarding house accommodation
• furniture storage for up to three months

Up to $1,000 of the grant may be accessed to support an in-person candidate interview, or pre-employment site-visit (payable if candidate is successfully employed).

Eligible businesses can also claim up to $2,500, as part of their total grant, to access qualified recruitment services, or HR professionals, to provide tailored recruitment assistance for the pre-approved role/s. The business can apply to be reimbursed once a candidate has been successfully employed.

To be eligible for funding, eligible businesses must be operating within an eligible industry aligned with key NSW Government policies, priorities, and strategies.

 

Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $500,000 to $50 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

The Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program seeks to deliver transformative investment in regional, rural and remote Australia based on the principles of unifying regional places, growing their economies and serving their communities.

The program will focus on a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision in how that precinct connects to the region.

This grant opportunity operates through two streams:

1. Precinct Development and Planning - $500,000 to $5 Million
The Precinct Development and Planning grant opportunity provides opportunities to develop a precinct idea through to investment-ready stage. The rationale for Stream One is to recognise that financial constraints can inhibit great concepts being explored further and developed into realistic, well-designed and planned projects.

2. Precinct Delivery - $5 Million to $50 Million
The Precinct Delivery grant opportunity provides funding to deliver one or more elements of a precinct. This could include enabling public infrastructure (roads, pathways, underground infrastructure), open spaces between elements, or a particular building/s that is the catalyst for, or complements, other investment within a precinct.

Closing in September

Disability Worker COVID-19 Leave Grant
Closes: 7th of September 2023
Value: Reimbursement of leave paid to workers
Run By: Australian Government Department of Social Services
Reimbursement to cover payments to staff who deliver close personal support, are unable to attend work due to a COVID-19 infection and have insufficient or no sick leave.

Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) - Round 15
Closes: 14th of September 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $100,000 to $3 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Supports short term industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community.

Regional Filming Fund
Closes: 25th of September 2023
Value: Up to $175,000
Run By: Screen NSW
Offsets costs for film makers associated with shooting in regional areas of NSW.

Innovation Partnership Grants - Round 4
Closes: 25th of September 2023 - 11:00 pm
Value: $250,000 to $700,000
Run By: Aus4Innovation
Under the theme “High Tech Innovation to Address Challenges in Agriculture for Sustainable Development”, this round welcomes ideas that utilise technology to address challenges.

Defence Global Competitiveness Grants
Closes: 30th of September 2023
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.

Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme - 2023
Closes: 30th of September 2023
Value: Up to $20,000
Run By: Transport for NSW
Subsidies to support the construction or upgrade of bus stop infrastructure (generally owned and maintained by local councils) across country NSW.

Critical Producer Grant
Closes: 30th of September 2023 - 5:00 pm or Until Expended
Value: $10,000 to $100,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Regional NSW
Help primary producers and primary production enterprises impacted by the February and March 2022 NSW Severe Weather and Flooding events to rebuild and recover.

Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant – Round 5
Closes: 30th of September 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: 29% of the notional wholesale selling price of rebateable domestic cellar door sales
Run By: Wine Australia
Supports producers who add value by encouraging visitors to wine regions through a annual grant reflective of their eligible physical cellar door sales.

Closing in October

Support Plantation Establishment 2023–24 - Round 1
Current Batch Closes: 25th of October 2023 - 9:00 pm
Value: $40,000 to $6.949 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Supports the establishment of new long-rotation softwood and hardwood plantation forests and assist the sector to respond to the projected growth in demand for domestically sourced timber resources.

Closing in November

Powering the Regions Fund - Critical Inputs to Clean Energy Industries - Cement, Lime, Alumina and Aluminium Sectors
Closes: 2nd of November 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1 Million to $100 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Help these cement, lime, alumina and aluminium sectors maintain a presence in Australia and continue to deliver critical inputs for the infrastructure and supply chains needed for Australia to be a renewable energy powerhouse.

Closing Later

Regional Skills Relocation Grant
Closes: 15th of December 2023
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.

Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant – Storms and Floods August and September 2022
Closes: 15th of December 2023
Value: Up to $50,000
Run By: NSW Government
Support for small business and not-for-profits directly impacted by storms and floods from 4 August 2022 or 14 September 2022 onwards.

Fee-Free Traineeships NSW
Closes: 31st of December 2023
Value: Unspecified
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Traineeships are a proven pathway to well-paid jobs in a diverse range of careers and are fee free in NSW.

Rural Procedural Grants Program
Closes: 31st of December 2023 (extended)
Value: Up to $20,000
Run By: Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
Support for rural GPs providing unsupervised anaesthetics, obstetrics, surgery and/or emergency medicine to maintain and update their skills.

Aged Care Worker COVID-19 Leave Payment
Closes: 16th of February 2024 - 2:00 pm
Value: Reibursement of actual costs with no maximum
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Reimbursement of sick leave payments for directly employed permanent and casual workers, where the eligible employee is unable to attend work due to a COVID-19 infection and has insufficient sick leave.

2023 COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program - Reimbursement Stream
Closes: 3rd of April 2024 - 2:00 pm
Value: $2,000 per resident plus $20,000 base funding
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Supports aged care providers to transition towards managing the costs of COVID-19 outbreaks as part of their business-as-usual arrangements.

Regional and Remote Airports Security Awareness Program
Closes: 30th of May 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1,000 to $5,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs
Re-imbursement based funding to support regional and remote airports to meet requirements of the Screener Accreditation Scheme.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS-B) Broadcast Rebate Program
Closes: 31st of May 2024 - 5:00 pm or until expended
Value: Up to $5,000 per eligible aircraft
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Incentivises 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.

Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program - 2022 to 2024
Closes: 30th of June 2024
Run By: Australian Government Department of Education
Broad support program for eligible employers who employ apprentices in priority occupations.

Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant - 2023-24
Ongoing Until Closes: 30th of June 2024
Value: $10,000 to $40,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
A number of strategies to develop and support Aboriginal people through the creation of training and employment opportunities.

Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program - Phase 4
Closes: 30th of June 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: $15,698 to $11.7839 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Funding to Local Councils for a broad range of projects to fund so that communities can continue to be provided with the infrastructure they require.

Regional Investment Activation Fund - Stream Two
Ongoing Until Program Closes: 31st of December 2024 or until expended
Value: $1 Million to $10 Million
Run By: NSW Government Department of Regional NSW
Supports regional projects that are time-sensitive and strategically significant for a priority industry or location.

Regional Australia Microgrid Pilots Program
Closes: 31st of December 2026 or until expended
Value: $1 Million to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government: Australian Renewable Energy Agency
Support pilot projects for microgrids in Regional Australia.

Ongoing

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, Communications and the Arts
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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

Landing Pads for Start Ups
Closes: Ongoing
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 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.

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.

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.

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.

SafeWork Small Business Rebate
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $1,000
Run By: SafeWork NSW
Support for 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.

Major Project Status
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Government Support
Run By: Major Projects Facilitation Agency
Formally recognises the significance of a project to the Australian economy and provides extra support and coordinated approvals.

Employment Assistance Fund
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Job Access
Assists people with disabilities and mental health conditions to buy work related modifications and services.

Workplace Legal Advice Program
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Fair Work Ombudsman
Provides eligible employers and employees with free independent legal help to deal with workplace issues arising from the coronavirus outbreak. 

Bridges Renewal Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Funding to upgrade and replaceme of bridges to enhance access for local communities and facilitate higher productivity vehicle access.

Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Funds infrastructure projects that improve the productivity and safety outcomes of heavy vehicle operations across Australia.

Minimum Viable Product Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $25,000
Run By: NSW Government
Supports pre-revenue technology startups to help them engage with a potential business customer, or channel to market.  

Regional Roads REPAIR Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: Transport for NSW
assist councils in carrying out larger rehabilitation and development works on regional roads.

Boating Infrastructure Emergency Repair Pool (BIERP)
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $500,000
Run By: Transport for NSW
Funding for repair or replacement of recreational boating infrastructure.

Traffic Route Lighting Subsidy
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: Transport for NSW
A subsidy for providing a higher level of lighting on certain major routes, with the aim of decreasing night time road crashes.

Electric Vehicle Rebate
Closes: Until allocation exhausted
Value: Up to $3,000
Run By: NSW Government
Rebates for the first 25,000 new full battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles purchased.

Electric Vehicle Stamp Duty Refund
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $3,000
Run By: NSW Government
Reimbursement of the stamp duty paid on purchases of new or used full battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

Local Government Road Safety Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Transport for NSW
Works in partnership with local councils to co-fund Safety Officer positions and contribute funding to projects targeting road safety issues at a local level.

Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Australian Government Clean Energy Regulator
Creates a financial incentive for individuals and small businesses to instal eligible small-scale renewable energy systems.

Conservation Partners Grant
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $15,000
Run By: NSW Government Biodiversity Conservation Trust
Supports landholders in managing their conservation area, allowing them to improve the biodiversity value of their properties.

Natural Disaster Donated Fodder Transport Subsidy
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Transport costs up to 1,500km
Run By: Rural Assistance Authority
Supports organisations that donate and transport donated fodder to a central location within NSW for the benefit of primary producers with livestock, in the event of a natural disaster.

Off-farm Efficiency Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: NSW Deptartment of Planning & Environment - Water
Supports projects that provide long-term benefits through improved water infrastructure and reduced water losses.

Airservices Australia Enroute Charges Payment Scheme
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Based on enroute charges
Supports regional commercial airlines operating low volume and new routes to regional and remote communities; as well as aeromedical providers.

Self-Employment Assistance
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Australian Government Department of Employment
Support to help you turn your business idea or existing small business into a viable business.

Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program: Precinct Delivery - Stream 2
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $5 Million to $50 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Funding to deliver one or more elements of a precinct, including enabling public infrastructure, open spaces between elements, or a particular building/s that is the catalyst for, or complements, other investment within a precinct.

Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program: Precinct Development and Planning
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $500,000 to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Funding to develop a precinct idea through to investment-ready stage to overcome financial constraints that can inhibit great concepts being explored further and developed into realistic, well-designed and planned projects.

High Emitting Industries Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $305,000
Run By: NSW Government Office of Energy and Climate Change
Support for high emitting manufacturing and mining facilities in NSW that emit more than 0.09 MtCO2e per year1 to reduce their emissions beyond current projections.

Strategic Opportunities Program
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Screen NSW
Supports individual initiatives and events that demonstrate long-term benefits to the NSW screen industry.