Regional Food Processing Grants Grants from $15,000-$200,000 are now available for primary producers and food processors in rural and regional Australia

The Australian Government is investing in the future of regional Australia and our food industry through the new Food Processing in Regional Australia Program.

Under the program, competitive grants of between $15,000 and $200,000 are available on a matching funds basis for either individual small-to-medium businesses, or groups of such businesses.

Applicants must be:

• operating a small to medium business in the farming, seafood/aquaculture, or food processing industries;

• operating in rural and regional Australia ; and

• proposing a commercially viable project that will benefit that region.

The Food Processing in Regional Australia Program is a competitive, merit-based grants program aimed at assisting small to medium sized agrifood businesses break into new markets. This program will provide greater engagement between regional food processors, the finance sector and customers.

An applicant’s businesses must have fewer than 200 employees and a turnover under $25 million per year. Applicants must also show that they can match the Government’s funding provided for their project.

Grants will be allocated over a number of rounds. Applications for Round Two close
5 October 2005.

As some of the instructions and questions have been changed to help target the program better, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT APPLICATIONS FOR ROUND TWO ARE COMPLETED ON, AND WITH REFERENCE TO, DOCUMENTS THAT PERTAIN TO ROUND TWO. Applications will only be accepted if they are completed in accordance with Round Two documentation.

Application forms and program guidelines are available from www.daff.gov.au/regionalfood Alternatively, contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) on 1300 794 550 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1300 794 550      end_of_the_skype_highlighting to request a copy of these documents.

The Food Processing in Regional Australia program is part of the Australian Governments' Investing in our Farming Future initiative.