New grant opportunities for innovative Victorian and Queensland SMEs
SMEs in Victoria and Queensland are set to benefit from the latest round of funding for innovative manufacturing and energy sector firms in the two states.
Victoria
Innovative manufacturing and energy sector firms in Victoria have the opportunity to apply for the latest round of development grants from the state government.
The New Energy Jobs Fund
Round 3 of the Victorian Government’s New Energy Jobs Fund is open for applications.
Grant funding of between $50,000 and $1 million is available with applications closing at 2pm on 1 March 2018.
Projects must focus on new energy technology and may include physical projects, innovative business and finance models, and projects that address skills gaps in the sector.
Funding is available to support projects in two streams:
The industry stream supports the manufacture of new energy technology components and systems. This can include innovative new energy technology projects relevant to sustainable transport, including projects that support the shift to sustainably sourced fuels and electric vehicles.
Grants are also available to support innovative and unique projects that enable industry to optimise, adapt or integrate commercially available new energy technologies, as well as projects which strengthen capabilities and capacity to innovate in the new energy technology sector.
The community stream involves the development of community renewable energy project business cases and feasibility studies and the implementation of community renewable energy projects.
In addition to offering information online, the Victorian Government is also offering to hold individual meetings with applicants until 22 February 2018 and firms are invited to arrange a meeting by emailing new.energy@delwp.vic.gov.au.
The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund (AMGF)
Round 2 of the Federal Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Fund is also now open to fresh applicants.
$16.4 million in grant funding has been allocated for round 2 of the program, with applications closing on 28 February 2018.
The program offers small to medium enterprises with funding of between $500,000 to $2.5 million to cover up to a third of project costs for capital projects that establish or expand advanced manufacturing activities in Victoria and South Australia.
Examples of grant recipients under round 1 can be found here.
The program supports small and medium enterprises that expand and establish advanced manufacturing using advanced technologies, design and engineering excellence and innovative business processes.
Full program information, including eligibility, merit criteria, and application forms, can be found on the state government’s business portal.
Queensland
11 Queensland small businesses have won grant funding under the latest round of the Accelerate Small Business Grants Program.
Shannon Fentiman, Queensland’s Minister for Employment and Small Business, said the money will help firms to engage with experts to help their business grow and create jobs.
“Small businesses are the engine room of our Queensland economy and investing in their growth leads to more local jobs.” She claimed the Palaszczuk Government has worked with business and industry to create over 143,000 new jobs in Queensland since first taking office.
64 firms have now benefitted from the 3 year, $3 million grants programme, helping them manage growth, implement business development plans and look to overseas markets.
