Category: Grants/Innovation

SMART FARMS SMALL GRANTS ROUND 3

The Australian Government is inviting applications for projects to deliver services under the National Landcare Program – Smart Farms Small Grants Round 3.
Smart Farms Small Grants is an open, competitive, grant opportunity to support projects to increase farming, forestry and fishing communities’ awareness, knowledge, skills and capacity to adopt best practice sustainable agriculture.
The purpose of Smart Farms Small Grants is to support land manager practice change that will deliver more sustainable, productive and profitable food, fibre and forestry business while protecting Australia’s biodiversity; protecting and improving the condition of natural resources; and assisting Australia meet its international obligations.
The purpose will be achieved by supporting projects that contribute to achieving one or both of the program outcomes outlined below:
• Outcome 1 – Increased adoption of best practice sustainable agriculture
• Outcome 2 – Increase the capacity of land managers to adopt best practice sustainable agriculture
A total of $43.5 million (GST exclusive) is available for Smart Farms Small Grants across an anticipated six annual rounds (2017–18 to 2022–23).
• The first round opened for applications in October 2017 from which the then Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources approved 77 projects.
• The second round opened 13 November 2018 and the then Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources approved 110 projects.
• This grant opportunity is the third round.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to apply for a grant you must be an individual or an organisation capable of entering into a legally binding and enforceable agreement with the Commonwealth. To be eligible you must be one of the following entity types:
• Commonwealth Company
• Company
• Cooperative
• Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• International Entity
• Local Government
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
• Partnership
• Person
• Sole Trader
• Statutory Entity
• Trustee on behalf of a Trust.
Applications from consortia are eligible, as long as you have a lead applicant who is solely accountable to the Commonwealth for the delivery of grant activities and who is an eligible entity as per the list above. Eligible organisations can form a consortium with ineligible organisations.
Grant Opportunity Guidelines are attached for anyone interested in applying. read more

NQ Dry Tropics – Water Quality Grants 

Guidelines

(click to view full size)

Queensland Government – Small Business Digital Grants Program

The Small Business Digital Grants Program can assist small businesses to access digital technologies and services to help them work smarter, engage with the global economy and make the most of online business opportunities arising from digital disruption.
Available funding
Matched funding of up to $10,000 (excluding GST) may be provided to eligible businesses for the purchase of hardware, software and services (such as digital coaching). The minimum grant funding is $1,000. The business must show how the digital technology or service purchased and adopted will enhance the digital capabilities of their business, and help them to be more competitive and employ more staff.
For more information or to apply please refer below.

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/advice-support/grants/digital-grants

(click to view full size)

MEDIA RELEASE – Nth Qld Restocking, Replanting and On-Farm Infrastructure Grants

I’m pleased to let you know that applications for the North Queensland Restocking, Replanting and On-Farm Infrastructure Grants are now open. You’ll find more information on eligibility and applying at https://clicktime.symantec.com/36xVukpxYynavpHauh7kZkC7Vc?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qrida.qld.gov.au%2F400kfloodgrant

These grants (not loans) of up to $400,000 to eligible primary producers can be used for:
• restocking lost livestock
• replanting lost or damaged crops or permanent plantings
• restoring or replacing lost or damaged on-farm infrastructure.

The grants require a 50 per cent co-contribution, dollar-for-dollar and applicants must have first received the $75,000 Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant in full.

I strongly urge all applicants not to self-assess their eligibility for these grants and to talk to QRIDA or the Rural Financial Counselling Service before submitting an application.

There’s been some comment that the next generation of graziers, those who were just starting out at the time of the floods, may miss out on these grants. That is not the case. We need to nurture those up-and-comers and make sure we have a sustainable industry.

As long as someone can demonstrate their primary production business has the potential to become viable and provide a reasonable income – for example there is a business plan and they were building up a herd – then they will be considered a primary producer under this program.

Farmers will be able to draw down on grant funds as many times as needed up to the total that’s been approved, until the end of the scheme on 30 June 2021. This means each farmer will control the timing of their restocking or replanting to suit their business needs.

I want to reiterate these are grants and not loans – we are not asking people to take on debt, rather we’re giving them a hand with re-establishing their farm businesses.

I also offer my assurance that the $300 million allocated to this grant program is certain and will not be affected by the election outcome. read more

National Landcare Program: Smart Farming Partnerships Round 2

The Australian Government is inviting applications for projects to deliver services under the National Landcare Program – Smart Farming Partnerships Round 2. Projects are expected to commence before the end of 2019 and be complete by 30 April 2023.
Smart Farming Partnerships is an open, competitive, grant opportunity to support substantial, complex projects that are to be delivered in consortium partnerships to trial, develop and implement innovative tools and practices.
Additional information is available via the following link:

https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/national-landcare-program-smart-farming-partnerships-round-2

Les Elphinstone
Manager KCGO

REEF WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS – STAGE 1

Great Barrier Reef Foundation has released details of successful applicants/projects that have received funding under the GBR Foundation Water Quality Improvement Grants: Stage 1. It is noted several projects will in part be taking place in the Burdekin region.

Updates will be provided as further information comes to hand.

Les Elphinstone
Manager KCGO

(click to view full size)