Deadline: 7-Apr-23
Distillery Support – Infrastructure and Boosting Visitor Economy applications are now open to support and enhance Victoria’s distillery industry through supporting skills development, boosting the visitor economy, infrastructure, and export capability.
The 2021-22 Victorian Budget included a commitment to deliver the Distillery Door Program (the Program), with $10 million total funding to support and enhance Victoria’s distillery industry.
The Program has been co-designed with Government and industry to support and enhance Victoria’s distillery industry through supporting skills development, boosting the visitor economy, infrastructure, and export capability.
Aims
The Infrastructure and Boosting Visitor Economy grants will provide direct funding to businesses under the Program.
Grants aim to:
- Support individual businesses to increase business capability and efficiency through investment and improvements in on-site infrastructure.
- Support individual businesses to establish or enhance distillery doors, or promote visitor flow, showcasing Victoria’s tourism offerings.
- Ensure Victoria continues to be a premium producer of distilled alcoholic beverages and remains globally competitive.
- Enable Victoria to become a leader in Australian distilled alcoholic beverage production.
Funding Information
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Two Streams of funding for projects are available under the Program:
- Stream 1: grants of up to $20,000 (GST exclusive) are available to increase business capability and efficiency through investment and improvements in on-site infrastructure.
- Stream 2: grants of up to $70,000 (GST exclusive) are available to establish, enhance, or promote a distillery door, increasing visitation. Grant recipients will be required to make a cash co-contribution of a minimum of 30 or 50 per cent of the total eligible expenditure on the project.
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Co-contribution will be:
- 30% cash co-contribution if no more than 10,000 litres of alcohol produced in the 2021/22 financial year.
- 50% cash co-contribution if greater than 10,000 litres of alcohol produced in the 2021/22 financial year Co-contributions must be cash. In-kind contributions such as labour are not included. Any additional or ineligible costs associated with the overall project must be met by the grant recipient.
Eligible Expenditure
Grant funding may be used for the following types of projects:
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Stream One
- Projects that support distillery infrastructure development that will increase business efficiency or capacity, the adoption of new technology, improves safety or sustainability. These projects will allow distillers to enhance or expand their offerings as a premium Victorian producer.
- New equipment or small-scale infrastructure for the distillery (including signage).
- Technology adoption (excluding training and on-going maintenance and service support costs).
- Product diversification.
- Items that support business efficiency and/or safety.
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Stream Two
- Projects that support distillery door establishment or enhancement to increase physical visitation to the distillery door. These projects will directly support Victoria’s tourism offerings and reputation as a premium producer of spirits.
- Establishment of a distillery door through a new build or building enhancements.
- New equipment or large-scale infrastructure for the distillery (including signage) that will increase visitation.
- Marketing costs – initial establishment costs for digital marketing, advertising, promotional collateral that will increase visitor flow (capped at $20,000 GST exclusive).
Other eligible expenditure may be accepted on a per case basis. Stream One projects must be completed and fully acquitted within 5 months of the execution of the Grant Agreement.
Eligibility Criteria
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In order to apply, applicants must:
- Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Be registered as a business in Victoria.
- Be a legal entity.
- Own at least one still with a capacity of fifty (50) litres or more.
- Hold a valid ATO manufacturer licence to produce distilled alcoholic beverages.
- Hold a current general or producer’s liquor licence issued by Liquor Control Victoria.
- Agree to participate in future Program evaluation activities.
- Meet all workplace and employment obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards and the rights and obligations under applicable industrial awards.
- Be able to meet the agreed (minimum 30-50 percent) cash co-contribution requirement.
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Applicants will need to:
- Provide details of all ATO Manufacturer Licences held by any directors/owners or the business/company applying.
- Provide details of general or producer’s liquor licence issued by Liquor Control Victoria.
- Attest to litres of distilled alcohol produced in the 2021/22 financial year.
- Attest they operate as a distillery and sell (intend to sell) their distilled alcoholic beverages through at least of one of the following: distributor, distillery, online OR are currently ageing spirits produced in their own still in barrels for the production of spirits (Stream One).
- Attest they operate as a distillery, have (will have) a distillery door linked to the distillery and sell (intent to sell) their distilled alcoholic beverages (Stream Two) 6. Provide relevant information on the project, including quotes, project budget and timeline.
For more information, visit Business Victoria.
For more information, visit https://business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/distillery-support-infrastructure-and-boosting-visitor-economy
