Deadline: 1-Aug-23
The Australian Government is accepting applications for round 1 of the Growing Regions Program to deliver community and economic benefits by investing in community-focused infrastructure which revitalises regions and enhances amenity and liveability throughout regional Australia.
Objectives
- The objectives of the program are:
- constructing or upgrading community infrastructure that fills an identified gap or need for community infrastructure;
- contributing to achieving a wide range of community socio-economic outcomes;
- is strategically aligned with regional priorities.
Funding Information
- The Australian Government has announced a total of $600 million over 3 years for the program.
- For Round 1, $300 million is available over 3 years.
- The minimum grant amount is $500,000.
- The maximum grant amount is $15 million.
Duration
- You must complete your project by 31 December 2025. They may approve extensions provided you complete your project by the program end date.
- The Growing Regions Program – Round 1 will run over 3 years from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Outcomes
- The intended outcomes of the program are:
- delivery of community-focused infrastructure which contributes to local and regional priorities;
- provision of infrastructure which benefits the community by improving equity and supports diverse social inclusion;
- to contribute to the achievement of broader Government priorities such as net zero emissions, gender equity, and/or First Nations priorities;
- growing local economies and enhancing amenity and liveability in the regions.
Eligible Projects
- To be eligible your project must:
- be aimed at constructing new community infrastructure or expanding or upgrading existing infrastructure for wider community benefit;
- not have commenced construction;
- not have received Commonwealth funding to undertake the same grant activities;
- have a minimum eligible expenditure of at least $555,556 (group 1), $714,286 (group 2) or $1,000,000 (group 3).
- Examples of activities include but not limited to:
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible you must:
- be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation; or
- be a local government agency or body; and
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN), or ORIC registration;
- deliver the project in an eligible location;
- commence the project no later than 15 May 2024;
- own the land/infrastructure being upgraded or built upon, or have the landowner’s permission to use the land/infrastructure.
- They can only accept applications where you provide:
- evidence of a cash contribution from another source (for example state government), the source must provide you with formal documentation confirming the cash contribution so you can attach it to your application;
- evidence to support the request for co-funding where the Commonwealth is funding 70 per cent to 90 per cent;
- evidence to demonstrate eligibility of your entity type;
- recent quotes for major costs as part of your EOI and your full application (if invited to apply);
- evidence that you either own the land/infrastructure being built/upgraded upon, or that you have the landowner’s permission to use the land/infrastructure.
Ineligible
- You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- an individual;
- a partnership;
- a Regional Development Australia Committee;
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust);
- a Commonwealth, state or territory government body;
- a non-corporate Commonwealth entity;
- a non-corporate State or Territory Entity;
- an international entity;
- sole trader;
- a for-profit organisation;
- university, technical college, school, hospital or aged care.
For more information, visit Australian Government.
