The Regional Job Creation Fund (RJCF) Round 3 has a $100 million budget allocation that seeks to support regional investment and job creation by providing co-funding to activate or bring forward regional projects in engine, enabling or emerging engine industries.

Deadlines and Timings

Information webinar is on 30 January at 2:00pm.

Submission of expressions of interest is now open and will close on 5pm (AEDT) 6 March 2023.

Notification of EOI outcome and invitation to submit detailed application (if applicable) is on 8 May 2023 (subject to change; dependant on incoming government).

Detailed applications will close on 5pm (AEDT) 26 June 2023.

Overview and Grant Amount

Round 3 of the Regional Job Creation Fund will support existing regional NSW businesses, or those seeking to relocate to regional NSW as they adapt to technological change, meet evolving supply chain distribution demands and leverage their strengths to drive ongoing productivity and regional economic development.

Grants will range from $100,000 to $10,000,000 (excluding GST) to help businesses create and retain jobs, including for young people and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals and people with disability, to support ongoing economic prosperity in regional NSW. All applicants must provide a co-contribution of at least 50% of the total project cost unless there are extenuating circumstances. In this case, applicants are required to provide supporting evidence for being unable to meet this requirement.

This round will involve a two-stage application process. The first, an expression of interest (EOI), and all EOIs will be assessed against the eligibility and assessment criteria and suitable projects will be invited to progress to stage 2. Stage 2 of the application process is the completion of a detailed application where further project information is required. Only eligible applicants will be invited to submit a detailed application.

Eligibility and Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be one of the following:

1. a company incorporated in Australia
2. a company incorporated by guarantee
3. an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
4. an incorporated association or co-operative
5. a partnership
6. a sole trader
7. an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation

• be registered for GST
• be financially viable and able to demonstrate that they are likely to remain so over the duration of the project
• have at least $20 million public liability insurance or be able to secure before entering into a funding deed if successful

Applicants can be based internationally, interstate or in metropolitan or regional NSW. International businesses will need to have an ABN, be registered for GST, have at least $20 million in public liability insurance and be an eligible entity (as listed above), to enter into a funding deed if they are successful.

Applicants can submit a joint application, but a lead applicant will need to be nominated.  If the application is successful, the lead applicant will enter into the funding deed and be ultimately responsible for delivering the project. The lead applicant must complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) application form and identify all other joint applicants in the application. If invited to submit a Detailed Application, the application must include a letter of support from each organisation listed in the grant application. Each letter of support should include:

• details of the joint applicant
• an overview of how the joint applicant will work with the lead applicant and any other joint applicants (if applicable) to successfully complete the project
• an outline of the relevant experience and/or expertise the partner organisation will bring to the application
• the roles/responsibilities of the joint applicant and the resources they will contribute (if applicable)
• the amount and source of any co-contribution to the project (if applicable)
• details of a nominated contact for the joint applicant (at the management level)

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects must:

• be located in one of the 93 regional NSW local government areas (LGAs), the Unincorporated Far West or Lord Howe Island
• create or retain direct Full Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs* in regional NSW that are sustainable without additional NSW Government investment beyond the grant
• demonstrate the project would not occur in regional NSW at all, or in the same timeframe, without government investment
• be completed by 30 May 2025. It is recommended applicants have a COVID plan in place to mitigate any potential delays due to COVID
• provide proof of $20 million of public liability insurance at time of contracting
• secure approvals to meet project timeframes
• confirm secured cash co-contribution.

*Note: Jobs must be directly employed by the applicant/ joint applicants and not through labour hire firms. One FTE position is equal to a ‘standard working week’ of 35 hours.

Examples of eligible projects under RJCF Round Three include:

• replacement, upgrade or adaptation of existing plant and equipment including technology or energy efficiency upgrades
• establishment of an additional production line for an existing regional NSW business
• onshoring in a regional NSW location of activity currently done overseas
• development of new regionally significant and /or iconic tourism experiences and visitor attractions creating new inter-state or international demand in the region (without impacting other NSW tourism businesses)
• relocating or expanding a business operation from out-of-state or internationally to regional NSW

The following are some of the successful projects of the RJCF Rounds 1 and 2:

• Solar panel upcycling of Elecsome Pty Ltd.
• Smalls and fittings manufacturing machine of HF Hand Constructors
• Generation 2 air seeders of BOSS Engineering Pty Ltd.
• Faber innovative production machinery and technology upgrade of Ray Faber Sheetmetal
• Pharmaceutical laboratory project of Nowchem
• Centrifuge purchase and installation of the Trustee for the Prosser Family Trust
• Export-ready wine storage facility project of Grove Estate Wines
• Production line, equipment and infrastructures upgrades of Styrofoam Industries Pty Ltd.
• Cold storage and freezer facility of Thomas Foods International Bourke Pty Ltd.
• ABS Façade Canberra expansion and relocation to Queanbeyan of ABS Façade

Visit the RJCF webpage to view the complete list of past grantees of this funding.

Eligible Cost

Grants may be used for capital and other expenses directly related to the delivery of eligible projects that support job creation and/or retention This may include:

• purchasing, constructing, installing and/or commissioning new plant, equipment and/or machinery
• purchasing, constructing, establishing and/or fitting out new facilities, buildings or hubs
• purchasing technology and/or intellectual property (IP) required to undertake the project
• purchase of land (if necessary for the project and suitable alternatives to rent do not exist)
• upgrading existing facilities, buildings, plant, equipment, machinery and/or technology where necessary to deliver the project and achieve its outcomes
• cost of contractors to construct new buildings and facilities
• costs relating to activities that directly contribute to, or enable knowledge sharing (i.e., reports, database development)
• project management and administration costs up to 10% of project cost
• contingency costs up to 25% of project cost

The following costs are ineligible unless otherwise agreed by DRNSW:

• contributions made ‘in-kind’
• repayment of existing debts or budget deficits
• administrative, operational and maintenance costs not related to the project
• ongoing staff wages and salaries
• ongoing rental expenses, unless they form a small part of a larger project that anchors the applicant to the location
• non-fixed equipment, unless it forms a small part of a larger project that anchors the applicant to the location
• costs already funded by insurance or other NSW or Australian Government programs
• costs that have been incurred prior to the applicant receiving a Letter of Offer of grant funding
• costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation
• costs that require recurrent or ongoing funding from the NSW Government
• costs relating solely to marketing, advertising or product promotion, including education and information campaigns

For more information, interested parties are encouraged to read the program guidelines and FAQ set by the funding grant. Likewise, since this is a two-stage process where an EOI submission is required, applicants are advised to prepare all applicable documentations for each stage. Submissions may be lodged through their online portal.

Expert Assistance

We have 14 years of experience preparing EMDG claims and can assist in making sure you receive your maximum rebate.

Working with us means you get the maximum grant with minimum risk and effort. Our expertise includes R&D Tax Incentive registration and tax schedules, Export Grants, Capital Expenditure and Infrastructure Grants.

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