The NSW Regional Events Acceleration Fund Round Two has a $20-million funding that aims to support the social and economic recovery of its regional areas through the range of unique and world-class events that attract local, interstate and international visitors each year.

Deadlines and Timings

Applications close on 04 Oct 2022 at 5PM AEDT or until funding is fully committed. Assessment takes approximately 10 weeks from submission. Events must take place no later than June 2023.

Overview and Grant Amount

The aim of the funding is to help attract new events to the regions, make existing iconic regional NSW events even bigger and better and improve accessibility and inclusion at major events.

The types of events eligible for funding include:

• major sporting and lifestyle events
• major food and beverage events
• major music, art, cultural and regionally significant agricultural field day events

The following are the funding streams available for this round and the corresponding grant amounts for each:

• Stream 1 – Major even enhancement; up to $200K
• Stream 1 – Major even attraction; min $100K with no cap
• Stream 1 – Major even accessibility and inclusion; up to $100K

Stream Three funding must be applied for in conjunction with a Stream One or Stream Two application and is not a stand-alone funding stream. Also, Stream 1 and Stream 3 require a co-contribution of 25%.

Eligibility and Criteria

To be eligible for funding under the Regional Events Acceleration Fund applicants must be the event owner (i.e., the applicant either owns or has secured the rights to host the event) and be one of the following entities:

• the event organiser or committee
• a local council or Joint Organisation of Councils
• a not-for-profit organisation, including business chambers, industry associations and charities
• a sporting body (i.e., NSW or National Associations)
• a Local Aboriginal Land Council be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator or local council
• be financially solvent, have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be a sole trader; company; incorporated association; or trust entity
• have appropriate insurance cover including at least  $20 million public liability insurance for the  event period
• have the consent of the landowner and development approval (if required)
• have provided a completed datasheet; an event management plan that includes an accessibility and inclusion plan; and evidence of co-contribution

Eligible Locations

Only events hosted in one or more of the 93 regional NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs), the Unincorporated Far West Region, and Lord Howe Island are eligible for funding through the Regional Events Acceleration Fund. Events hosted in the Greater Sydney metropolitan area, and the Newcastle and Wollongong LGAs are not eligible for funding. A full list of the 93 eligible LGAs can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions.

A recording of the information session for this grant may be found here. Interested parties are encouraged to read the program guidelines and FAQs set by the funding grant. Submissions may be lodged through their online portal.

Expert Assistance

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