Apply now for Economic Development Sponsorship Program (Australia)

Deadline: 31-Mar-2027

The Economic Development Sponsorship Program supports projects that strengthen commerce, investment, innovation, employment, and economic growth in Perth. Funding is available across three tiers, with support ranging from up to 100% of project costs for requests up to $20,000 to up to 40% of project costs for requests above $50,001. Eligible applicants must be legally constituted entities or individuals with an Australian Business Number and must deliver projects within the City’s local government area or create a direct economic impact on the City.

Overview

The Economic Development Sponsorship Program provides funding for projects that support the growth and ongoing development of strategically important industries.

The program is designed to strengthen Perth’s economy by supporting initiatives that create direct economic benefits, attract investment, improve competitiveness, and generate employment opportunities.

Through targeted sponsorship, the City aims to position Perth as a leading destination for business, education, investment, innovation, tourism, and industry development.

Key Funding Details

• Program Name: Economic Development Sponsorship Program
• Location: Perth, Australia
• Funding Type: Sponsorship funding
• Main Focus: Economic development, investment, commerce, innovation, employment, and industry growth
• Funding Tier 1: $0 to $20,000, covering up to 100% of total project costs
• Funding Tier 2: $20,001 to $50,000, covering up to 50% of total project costs
• Funding Tier 3: More than $50,001, covering up to 40% of total project costs
• Eligible Applicants: Legally constituted entities or individuals with an Australian Business Number
• Project Location: Within the City’s local government area or directly impacting the City
• Deadline: Not specified in the source article

Purpose of the Program

The purpose of the Economic Development Sponsorship Program is to support projects that contribute to a strong, competitive, and thriving local economy.

The program helps businesses, organisations, and industry stakeholders deliver projects that strengthen key sectors, attract investment, support innovation, and create long-term economic opportunities.

It also aims to enhance Perth’s reputation as a destination for commerce, tourism, education, investment, and industry development.

Focus Areas

The program supports projects connected to strategically important industries and economic priorities.

Key focus areas include:

• Education
• International student services
• Retail development
• Property development
• Health and medical industries
• Life sciences
• Technology
• Innovation
• Creative industries
• Mining
• Resources
• Energy
• Energy transition
• Tourism
• Hospitality
• Commerce and investment
• Employment creation
• Industry capability
• Knowledge-sharing
• Sustainability
• Economic competitiveness

Program Objectives

The Economic Development Sponsorship Program aims to support projects that create measurable economic and industry benefits.

Main objectives include:

• Boosting direct economic impact
• Enhancing Perth’s reputation for commerce and investment
• Supporting key sector development
• Encouraging knowledge-sharing
• Promoting sustainability
• Attracting investment
• Improving business competitiveness
• Creating employment opportunities
• Supporting innovation and industry development
• Strengthening Perth’s long-term economic growth

What the Program Supports

The program supports projects that contribute to economic growth and create clear benefits for businesses operating within the City.

Supported projects may include:

• Industry development initiatives
• Business growth projects
• Investment attraction activities
• Innovation-focused projects
• Sector development programs
• Tourism and hospitality initiatives
• Education and international student service projects
• Technology and creative industry activities
• Projects supporting energy transition
• Projects that strengthen Perth’s economic reputation
• Projects that create employment or business opportunities

Funding Tiers

The program offers three funding tiers based on the size and scope of the project.

Tier 1: Funding Requests from $0 to $20,000

Tier 1 supports smaller projects and sponsorship requests.

Applicants may request up to 100% of total project costs.

This tier may be suitable for smaller initiatives that deliver direct economic value, support business development, or contribute to strategic industry priorities.

Tier 2: Funding Requests from $20,001 to $50,000

Tier 2 supports medium-scale projects.

Applicants may request funding for up to 50% of total project costs.

This tier may be suitable for projects with stronger partnership investment, wider economic reach, and measurable benefits for the City’s business or industry sectors.

Tier 3: Funding Requests Above $50,001

Tier 3 supports larger-scale projects.

Applicants may request funding for up to 40% of total project costs.

This tier may be suitable for significant economic development projects that demonstrate strong financial viability, strategic alignment, and long-term economic impact.

Who is Eligible?

The program is open to eligible entities and individuals that can deliver projects aligned with the City’s economic development priorities.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be legally constituted entities or individuals
• Hold an Australian Business Number
• Have required licences and insurances
• Submit applications before the project begins
• Deliver projects within the City’s local government area or create a direct impact on the City
• Demonstrate financial viability independent of City funding
• Meet all program eligibility requirements

Eligible Project Requirements

Eligible projects should demonstrate clear economic value and alignment with the program’s objectives.

Projects should:

• Generate direct economic benefits for businesses operating within the City
• Strengthen Perth’s reputation as a destination for commerce and investment
• Contribute to key industry sector development
• Create opportunities for economic growth
• Support innovation, employment, competitiveness, or investment
• Deliver measurable outcomes for the local economy and community

Who is Not Eligible?

The program does not support applicants or projects that fail to meet eligibility requirements.

Ineligible applicants include:

• Government departments
• Political parties
• Applicants with outstanding debts to the City
• Applicants involved in legal conflicts with the City
• Organisations that do not meet program eligibility requirements

Projects primarily political in nature will not be considered.

What Costs Are Not Supported?

The program does not support recurrent operational or administrative expenses.

Ineligible costs include:

• Wages
• Salaries
• Administrative overheads
• Debt reduction
• Operational deficits
• Legal expenses
• Reimbursement of costs already incurred
• Recurrent operational expenses
• Previously completed project costs

Applicants should ensure that funding requests are directly linked to eligible project activities and future project delivery.

How the Program Works

The Economic Development Sponsorship Program provides targeted funding to projects that align with Perth’s economic development priorities.

Applicants must submit their applications before the project starts.

The City assesses whether the project will create direct economic benefits, strengthen key sectors, support investment, improve competitiveness, or generate employment opportunities.

Successful projects should demonstrate measurable outcomes and clear value for the local economy.

How to Apply or Prepare

Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the project, its economic value, funding request, and expected outcomes.

Step 1: Confirm Applicant Eligibility

Applicants should first confirm that they are legally constituted or eligible as individuals with an Australian Business Number.

They should also ensure that they hold the required licences and insurances.

Step 2: Check Project Location or Impact

The project must either be delivered within the City’s local government area or create a direct impact on the City.

Applicants should clearly explain how the project benefits Perth’s economy, businesses, industries, or community.

Step 3: Choose the Correct Funding Tier

Applicants should select the funding tier that matches their funding request and project size.

The three funding options are:

• $0 to $20,000, up to 100% of total project costs
• $20,001 to $50,000, up to 50% of total project costs
• More than $50,001, up to 40% of total project costs

Step 4: Align the Project with Priority Sectors

Applicants should clearly connect the project to one or more priority sectors.

Relevant sectors include:

• Education and international student services
• Retail and property development
• Health and medical industries
• Life sciences
• Technology and innovation
• Creative industries
• Mining, resources, and energy
• Energy transition
• Tourism and hospitality

Step 5: Explain the Economic Impact

Applicants should describe how the project will support economic growth.

The proposal should explain expected outcomes such as:

• Increased investment
• Business growth
• Job creation
• Industry development
• Improved competitiveness
• Stronger tourism or education outcomes
• Innovation and knowledge-sharing
• Direct benefits for local businesses

Step 6: Prepare a Realistic Budget

Applicants should prepare a project budget that matches the relevant funding tier.

The budget should clearly show:

• Total project cost
• Amount requested from the City
• Applicant contribution
• Other funding sources
• Eligible project expenses
• Financial viability without full reliance on City funding

Step 7: Submit Before the Project Starts

Applications must be submitted before project commencement.

Applicants should not request reimbursement for costs already incurred, as previously incurred costs are not supported.

Expected Benefits

Funded projects are expected to support Perth’s economic priorities and create measurable local benefits.

Expected benefits may include:

• Increased economic activity
• Stronger business growth
• More employment opportunities
• Greater investment attraction
• Improved industry competitiveness
• Stronger reputation for Perth as a business destination
• Growth in key sectors
• Increased innovation and sustainability
• Stronger education, tourism, and commerce outcomes
• Long-term economic prosperity

Why This Program Matters

The Economic Development Sponsorship Program matters because it supports projects that help Perth remain competitive, innovative, and attractive to investors, businesses, students, visitors, and industry leaders.

By funding strategic economic initiatives, the City can strengthen industry capability, encourage investment, support employment, and promote sustainable economic growth.

The program also helps connect local economic priorities with practical projects that create direct benefits for businesses and the wider community.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid submitting applications after the project has already started.

Applicants should not request funding for wages, salaries, administrative overheads, debt reduction, legal costs, operational deficits, or costs already incurred.

Projects should not be vague about economic impact. The application should clearly explain how the project will benefit businesses, industries, investment, employment, or the local economy.

Applicants should avoid choosing the wrong funding tier or requesting a contribution above the allowed percentage of total project costs.

Projects that are primarily political in nature should not be submitted.

Applicants should also ensure they have no outstanding debts or legal conflicts with the City before applying.

Tips for a Strong Application

A strong application should clearly demonstrate strategic alignment, economic value, and measurable outcomes.

Applicants should:

• Apply before project commencement
• Choose the correct funding tier
• Clearly explain the project’s economic purpose
• Link the project to priority sectors
• Demonstrate direct benefit to the City
• Show measurable economic outcomes
• Provide a realistic and compliant budget
• Show financial viability beyond City funding
• Highlight investment, employment, innovation, or competitiveness outcomes
• Avoid including ineligible operational costs
• Provide evidence of licences, insurance, and organisational capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Economic Development Sponsorship Program?

The Economic Development Sponsorship Program is a funding initiative that supports projects contributing to commerce, investment, employment, innovation, industry development, and economic growth in Perth.

How much funding is available?

Funding is available through three tiers. Tier 1 supports requests from $0 to $20,000, Tier 2 supports requests from $20,001 to $50,000, and Tier 3 supports requests above $50,001.

What percentage of project costs can be funded?

Tier 1 can cover up to 100% of total project costs. Tier 2 can cover up to 50% of total project costs. Tier 3 can cover up to 40% of total project costs.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants must be legally constituted entities or individuals with an Australian Business Number. They must also hold required licences and insurances and meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

What sectors does the program support?

The program supports sectors such as education, international student services, retail, property development, health and medical industries, life sciences, technology, innovation, creative industries, mining, resources, energy transition, tourism, and hospitality.

What costs are not eligible?

The program does not support recurrent operational expenses, wages, salaries, administrative overheads, debt reduction, operational deficits, legal expenses, reimbursement of previously incurred costs, or projects that are primarily political in nature.

What makes a strong application?

A strong application clearly shows economic impact, alignment with priority sectors, measurable outcomes, direct benefit to the City, financial viability, and a realistic budget that follows the funding tier rules.

Conclusion

The Economic Development Sponsorship Program supports projects that strengthen Perth’s economy through commerce, investment, innovation, employment, and sector development.

With three funding tiers available, the program can support projects of different sizes while requiring applicants to demonstrate clear economic value and financial viability.

This opportunity is best suited for eligible entities and individuals with an Australian Business Number that can deliver projects benefiting Perth’s businesses, industries, local economy, and long-term growth.

For more information, visit City of Perth.