BUSINESS INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Business Investment Programs:
Business Development Programs:
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
BUSINESS DROUGHT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMPAYROLL TAX INCENTIVE SCHEMERegional Business Development Scheme
The Regional Business Development Scheme offers financial and other assistance to businesses expanding in, or relocating to, regional NSW. The DSRD Business Development Managers are available to:
- help potential investors identify and develop commercial opportunities in regional NSW
- assist businesses wanting to relocate to the State's regions
- assist regional firms to expand and find new markets
- help firms to diversify and add value to products.
For more information contact:
Jillian Fryer
jillian.fryer@business.nsw.gov.au Tel: (02) 9338 6916
Hunter Advantage Fund
The Hunter Advantage Fund is a NSW Government initiative to create additional sustainable employment in the Hunter region.
The level of assistance provided for a project from the Hunter Advantage Fund is based on the number of people it employs. However, other factors such as the value of the capital invested, the benefit to the region and its compatibility with the region's strategic development is also considered.
The aim of the Hunter Advantage Fund is to stimulate investment that will generate new jobs in the local government areas of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock and Port Stephens. The Department will provide assistance towards:
- costs in establishing new job-generating investment
- infrastructure costs
- payroll tax, land tax and stamp duty relief.
For more information contact:
Margaret Turner
margaret.turner@business.nsw.gov.au DSRD Newcastle
Tel: (02) 4908 7333
Illawarra Advantage Fund
The NSW Government created the Illawarra Advantage Fund to attract new industries to the Illawarra and boost current business in the region. The fund aims to create long-term, sustainable jobs in the Illawarra.
The fund provides a range of assistance to eligible businesses looking to establish or expand in the Illawarra region. Assistance is flexible, but geared to securing growth or investment that is unlikely to occur without some up-front assistance to overcome constraints to the project proceeding.
Assistance may include a contribution towards:
- costs incurred in establishing a new job-generating business
- costs from substantial expansion of the workforce of an existing business
- external infrastructure costs incurred in establishment or expansion
- payroll tax, land tax or stamp duty concessions
- the cost of engaging external expertise to help implement a job-generating project
- project facilitation and coordination services.
For more information contact:
Donnatella D'Amico
donatella.d'amico@business.nsw.gov.auTel: 02 4225 9055
Regional Economic Transition Scheme
This scheme has been designed to provide assistance to regional communities and towns hit hard by economic shocks as a result of business closures, industry restructuring and global economic change.
The scheme provides quick, positive and flexible assistance to reposition and rebuild local economies. It does this by developing strategies and assistance packages to:
- diversify the economic base
- grow existing businesses and attract new ones
- assist with:
- infrastructure upgrading for new or expanding businesses
- developing retraining programs and skills upgrading
- development of business initiatives by community organisations
- development of business/feasibility plans.
For more information contact:
Paul Mathews
paul.mathews@business.nsw.gov.au Tel: 02 9338 6713
Aboriginal Business Development
The Department helps Aboriginal business people to develop business skills, establish networks and grow markets. Assistance is available for eligible businesses activities, including participation in domestic trade fairs, industry-specific marketing and engaging expert assistance for growth projects, business reviews and mentoring. Support is delivered through experienced Aboriginal Business Development Managers and regional staff.
These programs have been created to assist businesses that are majority owned and operated by Aboriginal people. Information on all the Department's initiatives for Aboriginal people can be found at
www.aboriginalbiz.nsw.gov.auFor more information contact:
Bernadette Selfe
bernadette.selfe@business.nsw.gov.au Tel: 02 9338 6754
New Market Expansion Program for Regional Enterprise
This program assists regional firms to develop the confidence and skills to pursue and take up new markets, and break the cycle of dependence on traditional markets and/or local economies.
As part of the program, regular Travelling Expert Tours are held in regional centres and towns. The tours brief small and medium-size firms on current business issues and trends so they are better prepared to take up new opportunities.
Click here for further information on the New Market Expansion Program or contact:
Sue Wadley
sue.wadley@business.nsw.gov.auTel: (02) 9338 6694
Developing Regional Resources
The Developing Regional Resources Program provides funding to help regional organisations, industry associations or alliances of regional firms investigate and pursue new economic/business development opportunities. The aim is to strengthen regional economies through initiatives that add value to local resources or diversify from the traditional economic base. Funding partners are sought from other government agencies and, increasingly, from the private sector.
For more information contact:
Sue Wadley
sue.wadley@business.nsw.gov.auTel: (02) 9338 6694
Community Economic Development Program (Population Over 2000)
This program aims to revitalise regional communities with a population over 2000. The program helps:
- increase business/economic activity in regional communities, particularly small/medium sized communities
- foster local councils' sustainable and professional commitment to economic development.
The program is aimed at improvements in the general business climate and is not necessarily restricted to the retail sector. Funding is designed to benefit the broader community rather than being of specific benefit to a single enterprise.
For more information please go to the
Regional Communities website or contact:
Anne Pitchers
anne.pitchers@business.nsw.gov.au Tel: (02) 9338 6712
Community Economic Development Program (Population Under 2000)This program aims to foster economic growth and create a more positive environment for business communities with a population of less than 2,000.
This program helps small regional communities take a strategic and proactive approach to economic development. Local council involvement is encouraged.
Project funding is designed to benefit the broader community rather than being of specific benefit to a single enterprise. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that may assist business sectors such as agribusiness and retail. Alliances of businesses are eligible for assistance.
For more information please go to the
Regional Communities website or contact:
Anne Pitchers
anne.pitchers@business.nsw.gov.au Tel: (02) 9338 6712
Business Retention and Expansion Survey
The Business Retention and Expansion Survey helps communities to collect and collate data on local businesses to provide a business profile and a starting point for future planning.
The Business Retention and Expansion Survey section of the website can only be accessed by clients offered DSRD funding to conduct this survey. Clients will need to contact DSRD to obtain a password.
The Survey section of the website can be entered by either clicking on 'regional communities' on the top right hand side of this page, or going direct to the
www.regionalcommunities.nsw.gov.au website, scrolling through the text and clicking on Business Retention and Expansion Survey.
For more information contact:
Anne Pitchers
anne.pitchers@business.nsw.gov.au Tel: (02) 9338 6712