Business, Industry and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities - December 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

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $250,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling

This program provides funding to support community infrastructure such as a multipurpose community hub or a service for an eligible community group.

The objective of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program is to fund the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure to deliver outcomes for disadvantaged NSW communities including regional, remote and drought-affected areas, culturally and linguistically diverse, disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and disaster-affected communities.

There are four streams under this program:

• Community Infrastructure - This program provides funding to support community infrastructure such as a multipurpose community hub or a service for an eligible community group.
• Sport and Recreation - Funding to support sport and recreation infrastructure such as sports centres, playgrounds and swimming pools.
• Arts and Culture - Funding to support arts and culture infrastructure such as museums, art galleries or cultural centres
• Disaster Readiness - Funding to support disaster readiness infrastructure such as evacuation centres, capital equipment or a multipurpose community facility.

 

Industry Growth Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $50,000 to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources

The program supports innovative small and medium enterprises undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas through advisory services and opportunities for matched grant funding. Minor changes or improvements to existing products or services are not considered innovative.

You will be connected to an Industry Growth Program Adviser who will provide tailored advice to support your commercialisation and/or growth project.

Once you have received this advice, you may also be able to apply for:

• grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects
• grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects.

An innovative product, process or service:

• is new, unique or significantly different to any other previous product, process or service in the market or industry where the product is intended to be sold/traded; or
• involves significant enhancements or developments of current products, processes or services that will enable the business to scale and transform.

 

Electric Vehicle Destination Charging Grants
Closes: 3rd of May 2024
Value: Varies
Run By: NSW Government Climate and Energy Action

More and more drivers are switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and they’re planning their trips around EV charging locations.

The NSW Government are investing $20 million to assist eligible regional NSW businesses and councils by co-funding the purchase and installation of EV chargers at your site.

The NSW Government will fund the following for up to 4 EV charging ports per site: 

• 75% towards the cost of an eligible 7 kW and/or 22 kW electric vehicle charger(s)
• 75% towards the cost of installation (capped at $3,000 per charging port)   
• 75% towards the first year of an eligible annual EV charger software subscription

Closing in December

Regional Skills Relocation Grant
Closes: 15th of December 2023
Value: Up to $12,500 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.

Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program Round 10
Closes: 15th of December 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $3,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Funding to enhance the safety and accessibility of aerodromes in remote and very remote areas of Australia.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Arts and Culture - 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $200,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support arts and culture infrastructure such as museums, art galleries or cultural centres.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Community Infrastructure - 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $250,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support community infrastructure such as a multipurpose community hub or a service for an eligible community group.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Disaster Readiness- 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $200,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support disaster readiness infrastructure such as evacuation centres, capital equipment or a multipurpose community facility.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Sport and Recreation - 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $300,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support sport and recreation infrastructure such as sports centres, playgrounds and swimming pools.

Addressing Critical Psychology Shortages – Supporting Provisional Psychologists to Practice
Closes: 20th of December 2023 - 2:00 pm
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Supports provisional psychologists to practice by increasing the availability of internships and increasing supervisor training.

Aged Care Registered Nurses' Payment to reward clinical skills and leadership – Round 2
Ongoing Until Closes: 20th of December 2023 - 2:00 pm
Value: $100 to $6,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
An additional payment to support Registered Nurses working in aged care who were employed by the same eligible employer.

Defence Global Competitiveness Grants
Current batch Closes: 31st of December 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.

Electric Vehicle Stamp Duty Refund
Closes: 31st of December 2023
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.

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.

Closing in January

Aged Care Capital Assistance Program Thin Markets
Closes: 12th of January 2024 - 2:00 pm
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Provides aged care infrastructure grants aimed at maintaining or increasing access to quality aged care services in thin market settings for people:

Support Plantation Establishment 2023–24 - Round 1
Current Batch Closes: 24th of January 2024 - 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.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adopt Program
Closes: 29th of January 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: $3 Million to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Funding to create a network of AI Adopt Centres, aimed at establishing a ‘front door’ for SMEs looking to explore responsible and safe adoption and usage of AI.

Disability Worker COVID-19 Leave Grant
Next Round Opens: 18th of December 2023
Next Round Closes: 30th of January 2024
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.

Aged Care Wages – Historical Leave Liability
Closes: 31st of January 2024 - 2:00 pm
Value: 50% of Costs
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Support for 50% of the cost associated with paying higher leave entitlements for aged care workers that have had their wages increased as a result of the FWC’s decision.

Closing in February

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.

Enterprise Business - 2022-23
Closes: 22nd of February 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $200,000
Run By: Screen Australia
Support for content creation companies in the areas of First Nations, Online, Documentary and Scripted content.

Closing Later

NSW Sheep and Goat Electronic Identification (eID) Rebate Scheme
Closes: 31st of March 2024
Value: Varies
Run By: NSW Department of Primary Industries
Rebates for primary producers, processors, saleyard and stock and station agents to help with the costs of implementing eID tagging systems.

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.

MVP (Minimum Viable Product) Ventures
Closes: 30th of April 2024 - 4:30 pm
Value: $25,000 to $50,000
Run By: Investment NSW
Supports startups and innovative SMEs in the product lifecycle between early-stage research and mature investment opportunities.

Electric Vehicle Destination Charging Grants
Closes: 3rd of May 2024
Value: Varies
Run By: NSW Government Climate and Energy Action
Co-funding is available to assist eligible regional NSW businesses with the purchase and installation of EV chargers.

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.

On Farm Connectivity Program
Closes: 31st of May 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: $3,000 to $30,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Assists primary producers to take advantage of digital agribusiness solutions to boost productivity and improve safety.

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.

Small Business Skills and Training Boost
Closes: 30th of June 2024
Value: Additional 20% tax deduction on eligible expenditure
Run By: Australian Taxation Office
A 20% bonus deduction on certain eligible training expenditure for your employees for businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million.

Small Business Technology Investment Boost
Closes: 30th of June 2024
Value: Up to $20,000
Run By: Australian Taxation Office
A 20% bonus deduction on technology expenditure to help digitise your small business for small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million.

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: 19th of December 2025 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Electric Vehicle Ready Buildings Grant
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $80,000
Run By: NSW Government Office of Energy and Climate Change
Assist eligible NSW apartment buildings by co-funding the assessment and installation of EV infrastructure upgrades.

Regional Filming Fund - 2023-24
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $175,000
Run By: Screen NSW
Offsets costs associated with shooting in regional areas of NSW. Regional NSW is defined as all areas in NSW outside the Sydney Metro area.

NewAccess for Small Business Owners
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Beyond Blue
A guided self-help mental health coaching program for small businesss owners developed by Beyond Blue.

Industry Growth Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $50,000 to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources
supports innovative small and medium enterprises undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas through advisory services and opportunities for matched grant funding.