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Regional Economic Stimulus & Resilience Grants

Support is available through the $34 million Regional Economic Stimulus & Resilience Grants for local community and economic recovery in bushfire-affected communities.

Overview

Local economic recovery

The $68.6 million Local Economic Recovery (LER) program is jointly funded by the Australian & Victorian Governments, who have each provided $34.3 million towards this program, which will fund local projects vital for community recovery, support economic stimulus projects, and boost industry and jobs across bushfire-affected regions.

After extensive consultation with local communities, the Australian and Victorian Governments have allocated the available funding across two streams - a local community stream and a regional economic stream:

Local community stream:

Regional economic stream:

Objectives of Program

Administered by Regional Development Victoria the $34 million Regional Economic Stimulus & Resilience Grants have been established to support regional economic recovery by stimulating economic growth and building economic resilience in bushfire affected regions. Objectives include:

  • increase economic and social benefits through enabling infrastructure
  • increase employment opportunities and decrease skills shortages
  • increase the capacity of the business community by enhancing employment, business and economic opportunities with a focus on tourism and primary industries, including small business or other sectors
  • increase business capability, including Aboriginal businesses
  • increase longer term resilience for future emergency events
  • increase and restore visitor confidence in the region
  • protect and enhance Aboriginal culture, and support participation and ownership

Funding Details

$34 million in funding is available for the Regional Economic Stimulus & Resilience Grants, with maximum funding per grant of $5 million for projects and programs in these areas:

  • East Gippsland Shire
  • Wellington Shire
  • Towong Shire
  • Alpine Shire
  • Indigo Shire
  • Mansfield Shire
  • Rural City of Wangaratta
  • Wodonga City
  • Falls Creek Alpine Resort
  • Mount Hotham Alpine Resort
  • Mount Buller & Mount Stirling Alpine Resort

Application Process

Eligible organisations

  • Local Government Authority and Alpine Resort Management Board
  • industry organisation
  • private sector businesses, including Aboriginal organisations, sole traders, micro and small businesses
  • business and industry groups, including chambers of commerce and business associations, industry peak bodies, business and industry clusters and networks
  • utility and services providers and water corporations
  • TAFE institution and university
  • public/private partnership, through an incorporated entity
  • not-for-profit organisation, including community groups that are an incorporated body, cooperative, association or social enterprise
  • other organisation agreed between the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and the Victorian Government
  • an auspice organisation.

Eligible projects

Projects are eligible if they are designed to produce an economic benefit to a fire affected region (East Gippsland and/or North East Victoria) and align with one or more of the following LER Program categories:

Enabling infrastructure

  • Economic infrastructure and new infrastructure focused on functionality improvements, enhancements or upgrades to including betterment.
  • Support for projects focused on micro-grids, local energy grids, that helps deliver resilience and economic value for communities.

Industry and business development

  • Initiatives supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.
  • Development of regional specialisations and economic diversification.
  • Business retention, new business development and business expansion and attraction.
  • New technologies, plant and equipment and systems to improve productivity, competitiveness, and business and jobs growth.
  • Capacity building, workforce participation, skills development, and local and regional industry networks.

Timeframes

  • Applications open: 29 October 2020
  • Applications close: 10 December 2020
  • Grants awarded: January 2021

Step 1

Read the guidelines

Step 2

Contact your local RDV office. They will conduct an initial eligibility assessment and provide you with the application form if your project is found to be eligible.

Step 3

Prepare an application: There are a number of steps you have to undertake as part of your application.

Download Resources

Resource Download
Local Economic Recovery program guidelines factsheet (628.9 KB ) Download
Local Economic Recovery program guidelines (237.2 KB ) Download
Local Economic Recovery program guidelines (349.0 KB ) Download
Regional Business and Economy Recovery Plan - Gippsland (2.7 MB ) Download
Regional Business and Economy Recovery Plan - Hume (3.0 MB ) Download
Regional Business and Economy Recovery Plan - Gippsland (3.4 MB ) Download
Regional Business and Economy Recovery Plan - Hume (4.5 MB ) Download

Projects funded by this program

Project Name Region Year Amount Funded
Destination Gippsland: Dark Skies Trail Gippsland 2021 $267,000
East Gippsland Council: Bruthen Streetscape Enhancements Gippsland 2021 $1,010,000
East Gippsland Council: Buchan Streetscape and Local Link Improvements Gippsland 2021 $2,800,000
East Gippsland Council: Old Slipway Activation - Lakes Entrance Gippsland 2021 $562,000
Gabrielle Ingram Pty Ltd: Sailors Grave Brewing - Dune Town Gippsland 2021 $2,350,000
Mallacoota Abalone Limited: Rebuild Value Add of Mallacoota Abalone Limited Processing Facility Expansion - Stage 2B Gippsland 2021 $3,000,000
Riviera Nautic: Riviera Nautic Jetties Redevelopment Gippsland 2021 $190,000
Tambo Valley Honey: Tambo Valley Honey Shop Gippsland 2021 $400,000
Trustee for the Metung Hot Springs: Metung Hot Springs Gippsland 2021 $1,500,000
Workways Australia Limited: Envite Environment - Training and Skills for Bushfire Economic Recovery Gippsland 2021 $851,600
Alpine Council: Gateway to Alpine Adventure - Dinner Plain Activation Phase 2 Ovens Murray 2021 $2,000,000
Alpine Council: Great Alpine High Country Connectivity - Dargo High Plains Road Upgrade Ovens Murray 2021 $2,600,000
Cycle Plan t/a Bright Velo2: Cycle Tourism & Accommodation Redevelopment Ovens Murray 2021 $375,000
Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board: Lakeside Trailhead and Foreshore Redevelopment Ovens Murray 2021 $2,500,000
Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (MASS): Operation Gamechanger - Project Retreat Stage 1A Ovens Murray 2021 $1,350,000
The Alpine Hotel: Alpine Hotel Redevelopment Ovens Murray 2021 $600,000
Towong Council: Great River Road Stage 2 Ovens Murray 2021 $5,000,000
Upper Murray Inc: Upper Murray Place Based Power Plan Ovens Murray 2021 $2,174,400
Wines of the King Valley Inc: NE Victoria Vineyard Smoke Sensor Network Ovens Murray 2021 $870,000
Mt Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board: Mt Hotham Snow Play and Activity Hub Ovens Murray 2021 $2,500,000
Committee for Gippsland Inc: GROW Gippsland - Bushfire Recovery Business Procurement Support Gippsland 2021 $500,000

This list of funded projects may not be a comprehensive listing of all announced Regional Economic Stimulus & Resilience Grants.

Regional RDV offices

Gippsland region

33 Breed Street, Traralgon  
Tel: 5116 7300
information.traralgon@rdv.vic.gov.au

Hume region

79a Wyndham Street Shepparton 
Tel: 5895 4100
information.shepparton@rdv.vic.gov.au

1st Floor, 62 Ovens Street, Wangaratta 
Tel: 5722 7101
information.wangaratta@rdv.vic.gov.au

Level 2, 111–113 Hume Street, Wodonga 
Tel: 6059 0200
information.wodonga@rdv.vic.gov.au

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