Does your business or organisation need money? Got a great idea, but funding is an issue? Got a great community event planned, but finance is holding you back? Check out these grant schemes, and there might be help at hand.
Some savvy businesses and organisations are well-versed in the opportunity to tap into government grants. They’re a leg-up, regardless of the scale.
Whether it be a new bit of paint for the clubhouse, or the millions of dollars you require to seed an innovative new global invention, grants are available to help.
And January seems to be a good time to find one. We’ve compiled a list of some of the available grants. If you know of more we might have missed, let us know at [email protected] and we’ll include them here.
Gambling Community Benefit Fund
This fund provides grants of between $500 and $35,000 to upgrade services or buy equipment for community organisations. Money is managed by the state government and comes from gaming revenue, mainly poker machines. It distributes about $53 million into the community each year. It is specifically for schools and community groups.
Get in the Game program
This is another state government program, aimed help individuals and organisations boost the level of participation in sport and active recreation. There are various types of grant in the $125 million plan. The Get Started voucher program starts January 24 and allows eligible children $150 worth of start-up costs to get involved with regular sporting activities. At the other end of the scale, “Get Playing Places and Spaces” grants have seen new cricket nets and lighting at Tivoli Sports Complex, adjustable goal posts at Ipswich Netball Centre and an upgrade to the starting ramp at Ipswich BMX track.
Business Development Fund
This is a biggie. It’s to support business ideas in their early stages, which the grant providers feel will attract co-investment from private investors to support emerging and high growth innovative business. Grants are up to $2.5 million. Needless to say you’ll probably need a bit more than a few scratches on the back of a coaster to apply for this one.
Back to Work South East Queensland
This one is designed to give employers the confidence to hire people who’ve been on the long-term unemployment list, or young unemployed jobseekers. It closes June 30, 2018, and gives business owners access to “employer support and youth boost payments.” The grants are valued at $20,000 each.
Queensland Arts Showcase Program
The big ticket grants here are for communities to secure national and internationally-renowned artists. But there are grants of up to $60,000 available for the creative development and public presentation of new works, or to cultivate new and emerging talent. And if you’ve got an idea to support a vibrant and diverse range of original arts and cultural experiences, there’s money for that too.
Arts Business Innovation Fund
We quote from the state government’s promo material: “The Arts Business Innovation Fund seeks to strengthen the financial and organisational capacity of not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations, by responding to innovative business ideas that will achieve an organisation’s mission into the future”. So if you have a good idea, there’s up to $100,000 on offer.
Advancing Small Business Queensland
The first few years in business are often the toughest, so these grants aim to support for a business to get a better start, survive for the first four years and increase their digital capabilities. There are key themes to the strategy: advocate, enable, and empower. Each theme has its own focus and range of programs with a specific aim to assist small business owners to succeed. While there are grants of up to $10,000, there is also a long list of training and assistance.
Small Business Entrepreneur Grants Program
This one has similarities to the “Advancing Small Business” grants. The difference is that they’re for entrepreneurs with an idea, and the amount is up to $5000. It might be to engage a consultant or a business coach to help establish or develop the business.
Innovate Queensland
Although there’s no set figure on the size of grants, Innovate Queensland aims to help small to medium sized businesses grow through a range of workshops, webinars and collaboration activities. Their key goals are to reduce innovation development costs, integrate innovation into existing enterprises, reduce time lags from idea to income,optimise R&D capability and linkages, and to better target market needs and increase market uptake.
Queensland Destination Events Program
This funding is aimed specifically at event organisers. If you have an event in Ipswich, for example, you could apply for two types of grant. One is for $10,000-$25,000 and would be to promote the destination in which the event is being held. There is a larger amount, up to $100,000 for events that show a track record of growth or growth potential.
Viva Cribb Bursary
The Viva Cribb Bursary program provides funding up to $5,000 to an individual or non-profit group to assist with the costs related to a project that documents, records or publishes a significant aspect of the local history of Ipswich. The bursary is named in honour of Viva Cribb, who demonstrated a dedication to the preservation of the history of Ipswich.
Ipswich City Council Cultural Grants Program
This program provides small non-recurrent grants to Ipswich cultural/community based organisations that are developing new cultural/community projects, enhancing community well-being and encouraging arts and cultural activities. Non-recurrent grants of up to $2,000 are available.
Ipswich City Council Community Development Grants
This program supports non-profit incorporated community organisations that are responding to local needs and building community spirit. Grants are awarded monthly. Funding up to $2,500 is available. For community infrastructure projects funding up to 50% of the total cost, to a maximum of $1,250 is available.
Young Performing Artist Bursary
This one exists to support up and coming artists. Applicants can apply once per year or to an annual maximum of $500 for individuals or $700 for groups.
Ipswich City Council Christmas Grants
There is up to $2,000 available for eligible community-based, not-for-profit organisations wanting to hold events or festivals in the Ipswich region. Applicants must be able to show their event will enhance community life and well-being for Ipswich residents.
Regional Arts Development Fund
This one is a partnership between Ipswich City Council and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. The Regional Arts Development Fund promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of inclusive communities and strong regions.
Environment and Sustainability Community Grants
If you’ve got a community-led project that is all about protecting and enhancing the sustainability of the environment in Ipswich this might be for you. Ipswich City Council has grants available for not-for-profit community groups, schools, childcare centres or wildlife carers. Groups and organisations are eligible to apply for grants up to $3,000 per annum and individuals are eligible to aplpy for up to $1,500 per annum.
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