Grants

Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) - Round Two

The Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) is a national program to support Australia’s regions and enhance their wellbeing and economic development. The program is administered by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government (the Department). It is designed to ensure that new investments build on strengths and reflect the characteristics, opportunities and challenges of our diverse regions.

Round Two opened on Thursday, 3 November 2011. $200 million has been allocated, with grants of between $500,000 and $15 million available to eligible applicants. Preference will be given to applications which demonstrate partnership funding on a dollar for dollar basis for grant requests of $5 million or less and of $2 for every $1 of RDAF funding for grant requests over $5 million.

Eligible applicants will submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for their project to their local RDA committee by COB on Thursday, 1 December2011 (local time). Following review of these EOIs against five criteria, RDA committees will select the three highest priority and viable projects to proceed to full application. RDA committees will also provide an overview of their Regional Plans to the Department to inform the assessment process.

Expression of Interest forms can be located on the Department’s website www.regional.gov.au. When completed, the EOI should be emailed to the CEO of RDA Mackay Whitsunday, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  A copy of the EOI form should be copied to the Department at the same time that it is emailed to the RDA committee ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

To view RDAF Round 2 Guidelines please click here. 

Other Grants for consideration:

Grants Link
The GrantsLINK directory has information about federal, state and loal government funding programs that can help you develop solutions to local and national problems, fund ideas and initiatives and get assistance in times of hardship.

Department of Environment and Resource Management Funding

AusIndustry
AusIndustry is the Australian Government's principal business program delivery division in the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.  AusIndustry delivers a range of more than 35 business programs - including innovation grants, tax and duty concessions, small business development, industry support and venuture capital.

Caring for our Country Community Action Grants 2011-12
Community Action Grants are a small grants component of the Australian Government's Caring for our Country initiative that aims to help local community groups take action to conserve and protect their natural environment. The grants are targeted towards established local community-based organisations that are successfully delivering projects to support sustainable farming and/or protect and enhance the natural environment.

Investment proposals are sought from environmental, Indigenous, Landcare, Coastcare and sustainable agriculture community groups for grants of between $5000 and $20 000 (GST exclusive) to take action to help protect and conserve Australia's natural resources and environment. Projects must be completed within 18 months or less. Up to $5 million is available for the 2011-12 round.

The grants are available to groups currently operating in the environmental and sustainable land management arena, as well as to established and emerging Indigenous organisations. Individuals are not eligible to apply for Community Action Grants.

Community Action Grants support local activities such as tree planting, revegetation, dune rehabilitation, field days, improving land management practices and the recording and use of traditional ecological knowledge.

Building Rural Communities Fund
Provides one-off grants of up to $10,000 for projects that will improve the economic, social, cultural and environmental capacity of rural and remote communities in Queensland. These projects must be delivered outside the South East Queensland corner and major regional centres.

Emerging Renewables Program
The key feature of the Emerging Renewables Program is its potential to consider a broad range of renewable energy technology projects and measures, without a specific set of criteria for each technology sector, or a specific requirement for the stage of the technologies’ progress along the technology innovation chain towards commercialisation. Each proposal is assessed on its own merits.

The Emerging Renewables Program will support emerging renewable energy and enabling technologies in two funding categories:

1. ACRE Projects - for renewable energy and enabling technologies and products as they move through the technology innovation chain and to lower the cost of renewable energy in Australia.
   The ACRE Projects application process is undertaken in two phases – i.e. an initial Expression of Interest (EOI) followed by an invitation for selected applicants to submit an application for funding consideration. Progress from an EOI to an invitation to apply for funding is not guaranteed.
2. ACRE Measures – for renewable energy industry capacity building and skills development, or preparatory activities for ACRE Projects. The ACRE Measures application process involves a single phase, i.e. no EOI is required.