Business, Industry and Infrastructure Funding Opportunities - July 2024

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.

Have Your Say About The RDA Network

As the department that provides funding for the Regional Development Australia network, the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts is seeking feedback from stakeholders.

This survey will inform the department about what support you have found useful and the issues facing our region. All responses will be de-identified, and the department will provide us with amalgamated results for our region.

The survey will take approximately ten minutes to complete and has been extended until 4pm on the 24th of July.

Featured Grants

Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme - 2024
Closes: 31st of August 2024
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; and
• bus stops that support other modes of transport, including flexible transport options.

 

Kickstarter Challenge 2024
Closes: 16th of August 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: $60,000 equity-free prize pool, mentoring sessions, media training and more
Run By: Enterprising ME

The Kickstarter Challenge gives five finalists the opportunity to take centre stage and pitch their new business idea for the chance to secure a share of $60,000 in equity-free funding. Finalists will also score a paid trip to the nation’s capital and support for the journey ahead with mentoring sessions, media training and more.

The 2024 categories are:

• Health, Wellbeing and The Care Economy
• Climate Change and Sustainability
• Community Impact
• Fintech or Ecommerce
• Popular Vote

 

EV Destination Charging Grants - Round 2
Closes: 2nd of August 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: Variable amount dependent on application
Run By: NSW Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

This grant assists eligible regional NSW businesses and councils by co-funding the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers at your site.

Round 2 of the EV destination charging grants will fund:

• EV charger hardware - up to75% towards the cost of eligible 7 kW and 22 kW EV chargers from the approved EV charger hardware list
• EV charger installation - up to 75% towards the cost of EV charger installation. The maximum 75% funding available is capped at $3,000 per single port charger and $6,000 per dual port charger ($3,000 per charge port).
• EV charger software subscription - up to 75% towards the cost of the first year of an eligible annual software subscription, per charge port, from the grant’s approved EV charger software list

Closing in August

EV Destination Charging Grants - Round 2
Closes: 2nd of August 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: Variable amount dependent on application
Run By: NSW Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Assists eligible regional NSW businesses and councils by co-funding the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers at your site.

Flourish: First Nations Fashion and Textiles Fund
Closes: 6th of August 2024 - 3:00 pm
Value: $10,000 to $50,000
Run By: Creative Australia
Building sustainable businesses and supporting economic, cultural, and social development opportunities.

Skills Development Fund
Closes: 8th of August 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $80,000
Run By: Screen Australia
Supports production companies, game development studios and screen businesses to provide skills development through structured work-based learning.

Kickstarter Challenge 2024
Closes: 16th of August 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: $60,000 equity-free prize pool, mentoring sessions, media training and more
Run By: Enterprising ME
Competition for female entrepreneurs with a new business ideas.

Aged Care Capital Assistance Program Residential–based Aged Care Services
Closes: 29th of August 2024 - 2:00 pm
Value: Up to $200 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Providing aged care infrastructure grants aimed at maintaining or increasing access to quality aged care services

Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme - 2024
Closes: 31st of August 2024
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 regional NSW.

Closing Later

Skills Development Fund
Closes: 7th of November 2024 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $80,000
Run By: Screen Australia
Supports production companies, game development studios and screen businesses to provide skills development through structured work-based learning.

Rural Procedural Grants Program
Closes: 31st of December 2024 (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.

Skills Development Fund
Closes: 13th of February 2025 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $80,000
Run By: Screen Australia
Supports production companies, game development studios and screen businesses to provide skills development through structured work-based learning.

MVP Ventures 2024-2025
Closes: 28th of February 2025 - 5:00 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.

Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program
Closes: 28th of March 2025 (subject to available funding)
Run By: Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Improve and modernise water delivery infrastructure, to reduce water loss in the Murray–Darling Basin.

Australian Lending Right Schemes (ELR/PLR)
Closes: 31st of March 2025 - 11:45 pm
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Compensate Australian creators and publishers in recognition of income lost through free multiple use of their books in public and educational lending libraries.

Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant - 2024-25
Closes: 30th of June 2025 - 12:00 am
Value: $10,000 to $40,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Develop and support Aboriginal people through the creation of training and employment opportunities.

Regional Filming Fund - 2024-25
Closes: 30th of June 2025 - 11:00 pm
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.

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.

Bin Trim Equipment Rebates Program
Closes: 30th of June 2027 - 12:00 pm
Value: Up to $50,000
Run By: Environment Protection Authority
Rebates to help with the cost of small-scale, on-site equipment or technology that avoids, reduces, reuses, or recycles waste.

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. 

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.

Startup Travel Stipend
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $2,000
Run By: NSW Government
Helps regional recipients of the Minimum Viable Product grant to travel for an innovation-related purpose.

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: Unspecified
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.

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.

Fee-Free Traineeships NSW
Closes: Ongoing
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.

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.

Drought Ready and Resilient Fund - Low Interest Loan
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $250,000
Run By: Rural Assistance Authority
Low interest loans to primary producers to fund a broad range of products, activities and services aimed at improving drought preparedness and climate variability resilience.

Fee-free Apprenticeships
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $2,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
The NSW Government is paying the course cost for 100,000 new apprenticeships – meaning apprentices undertaking a government funded apprenticeship no longer face a student fee of up to $2000.

Digital Games Rebate
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $50,000 to unspecified limit
Run By: Screen NSW
A 10 per cent rebate for eligible digital games with qualifying expenditure of at least AU$500,000 on the project in NSW.

Drought Infrastructure Fund
Closes: Ongoing Until Expended
Value: Up to $1 Million
Run By: Rural Assistance Authority
Provides long term, low interest loans to support farmers to invest in permanent on-farm infrastructure that will manage adverse seasonal conditions, ensure long term sustainability and improve farm productivity.

Accelerated Depreciation for Primary Producers
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Australian Taxation Office
Primary producers may be able to claim an immediate deduction for capital expenses incurred on fencing and fodder storage assets.

Agristarter Loans
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $2 Million
Run By: Australian Government Regional Investment Corporation
Agristarter Loans provide farmers with loans to either assist them in starting their own farming business or to plan for and implement succession arrangements.

Farm Management Deposits Scheme
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Provides primary production businesses with tax deductions on farm management deposits to help them deal with inconsistent income from natural disasters, climate and market changes.

Plantation Loan
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $2.5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Regional Investment Corporation
Loans are available for farmers seeking to establish and develop new plantations or replant bushfire-damaged plantations as a result of the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires.

Emergency relief for regional town water supplies
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Help Local Water Utilities towards the cost of water carting or water supply works during periods of emergency.

Industry Growth Program: Commercialisation and Growth
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $100,000 to $5 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Supporting innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas.

Industry Growth Program: Early-Stage Commercialisation
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $50,000 to $250,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Supporting innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas.

Defence Industry Development Grants Program - Exports Stream
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $15,000 to $250,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Defence
Support for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to overcome export barriers and help defence industry build scale and competitiveness in defence capability priority areas

Defence Industry Development Grants Program - Security Stream
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $10,000 to $100,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Defence
Help Australian defence industry improve and maintain security in priority areas as identified by the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities

Defence Industry Development Grants Program - Skilling Stream
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $5,000 to $250,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Defence
Help Australian defence industry to upskill and train in priority trade, technical and professional skillsets to develop a workforce with the right mix of qualified and experienced personnel to meet Defence requirements

Defence Industry Development Grants Program - Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $50,000 to $1 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Defence
Assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to purchase manufacturing plant and equipment which is used directly to develop and/or deliver programs that are in line with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities