Grant Opportunities

Food Industry For a Regionally Sustainable Tomorrow (FIRST) - Grant

The FIRST program aims to grow businesses and create jobs and investment in rural and regional Victoria.

The program will encourage innovation and collaboration, and will help regional Victoria's food industry to become more sustainable, globally focused and competitive.

The FIRST Program provides funding for activities that support at least one of five key action areas:

1. Innovation
2. Food for Life (developing a healthier food supply)
3. Industry Capability
4. Supply Chain Development
5. International Growth

For further information about this grant please visit: www.business.vic.gov.au/FIRST

Applications close on Friday 19 June 2009.

Climate Ready

Climate Ready provides grants from $50,000 to $5 million on a matching funding basis to support projects that address the effects of climate change. A broad range of project applications are expected.  For example:

• water recycling, waste recovery or small scale renewable energy technologies
• technologies that reduce the energy used by appliances or increase the efficiency of industrial processes
• products, processes or services to monitor emissions or power usage
• using biotechnology or nanotechnology to address the effects of climate change on humans and the environment
• information systems for businesses or consumers to compare the carbon footprints of different activities
• green building materials that make homes more energy efficient

The program offers small grants ($50,000 to $500,000) and large grants ($500,001 to $5 million).

The small grants support small business, as well as companies controlled by universities and public sector research organisations, through a simpler application form and reduced reporting requirements.

For more information, visit these links

Climate Ready - Fact sheet

Climate Ready - Customer information guide

Enterprise Connect

The Enterprise Connect initiative is aimed at a group of nearly 50,000 trade-exposed manufacturing and services SMEs which have grown beyond just a regional market, and stand on the cusp of significant national and international growth. It is anticipated that over 2,500 Australian firms will be directly assisted through this initiative each year.

To meet the challenges of falling trade barriers, the concentration of supply in global supply chains and increasing competitive pressures in the manufacturing and services sectors, firms need to constantly evolve and create new competitive advantages.

With the services offered by Enterprise Connect, businesses are able to:

*   undertake a Business Review with skilled and experienced Business Advisers, at no cost to the firm;

*   obtain matching funding up to $20,000 through the Tailored Advisory Service to implement changes identified by the Business Review; and

*    obtain financial assistance to find solutions to technical problems, sources of technology, or knowledge using the Technology and Knowledge Solutions component.

These services are delivered by professional Business Advisers, business improvement service providers, universities, public research organisations and other research firms.

For more information, businesses in the Mildura region should contact:

Paul Szuster

Mobile: 0423 883 946

Email: pszuster@vecci.org.au  

New Incentives for Agricultural and Horticultural Australian Apprentices
Australian Apprentices commencing in a Certificate Level II, III or IV qualification in Agriculture will now be eligible for a tool kit under the Tools For Your Trade initiative and for Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Vouchers, which provide up to $500 in the first and second year to cover course fees. Apprentices undertaking a Certificate II, III or IV qualification in Horticulture in a rural or regional area (identified using the rural and regional incentive postcode list) will also be eligible for this assistance.

For more information regarding the Tools For Your Trade initiative call 1800 557 875 or info@toolsforyourtrade.com.au

Information about the Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher is available on the Australian Apprenticeships website or by phoning the Australian Apprenticeships referral line on 13 38 73.

New Exporter Development Grant

New or limited exporters in small to medium businesses can apply for the New Exporter Development Program to access the services of an assigned export adviser over an 18-month period. Services include export coaching tailored to your business and 20 hours of free assistance delivered through Austrade's overseas network in a maximum of two markets.

Click here for further information