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
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:
- $26.6 million Local Community Project Grants, administered by Bushfire Recovery Victoria
Regional economic stream:
- $34 million Regional Economic Stimulus & Resilience Grants, administered by Regional Development Victoria
- $8 million Regional Economic Programs Fund, administered by Bushfire Recovery Victoria
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 | Hume region 79a Wyndham Street Shepparton 1st Floor, 62 Ovens Street, Wangaratta Level 2, 111–113 Hume Street, Wodonga |
