Growing Regions Program - Round 2

Funding for capital works projects that will enhance liveability, bolster social cohesion and support local amenity throughout Australia's regions

Closes 10th October 2024

The Australian Government has committed $600 million over four years, commencing in 2023-24 (round one) for the Growing Regions Program to deliver investment in infrastructure across Australia's regional, rural and remote areas.

The program provides funding of between $500,000 (minimum project funding) and $15 million (maximum project funding) to local government entities and incorporated not-for-profit organisations for capital works projects that will enhance liveability, bolster social cohesion and support local amenity throughout Australia's regions. You are required to contribute towards the project.

The program is an open competitive program with funding awarded on a merit basis.

The Growing Regions Program - Round 2 Program Guidelines are available for eligible applicants to start preparing applications ahead of the upcoming opening of Round 2 for applications. Potential applicants can check their initial eligibility to apply before applications open.

Applications for Round 2 will open 5 September 2024 and close 10 October 2024.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

• be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation

  • A not-for-profit organisation must demonstrate not-for-profit status through one of the following:

    • current Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) registration; or

    • state or territory incorporated association status; or Constitutional documents and/or Articles of Association that demonstrate the not-for-profit character of the 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

• declare the project will be shovel ready at the time of signing a funding agreement

• own the land/infrastructure being upgraded or built upon, or have the landowner’s permission to use the land/infrastructure.

You are not eligible to apply if you are:

• an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’

• an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)

• an individual

• a partnership

• a Regional Development Australia Committee

• an unincorporated association

• any organisation not included in section 4.1 of the guidelines

• 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

• a non-corporate state or territory statutory authority

• an international entity

• sole trader

• a for-profit organisation

• university, technical college, school, hospital or aged care

• in an ineligible location (as detailed in section 5.3 of the guidelines).