Deadline Date: April 30, 2026
The Community Improvement District Seed Funding Program is requesting applications to help communities and local businesses establish partnerships that enhance and revitalize shared local areas.
The programme focuses on providing seed funding to enable CID proponents to prepare statutory documentation for establishment, reducing financial and procedural barriers, building capacity in governance, consultation, and financial modelling, and supporting early engagement to demonstrate the benefits of CID formation to stakeholders.
Community Improvement Districts are partnerships between local government and communities, led by local businesses, aimed at improving local spaces and supporting economic growth in town centres and main streets. Through collaboration, stakeholders work toward shared goals that enhance the vitality and sustainability of their areas.
The seed funding programme, with a total allocation of $1.5 million, is designed to assist proponents with costs incurred during the process of becoming a CID. While it does not cover all expenses, it contributes to eligible costs associated with statutory processes outlined under the Community Improvement Districts Act 2025 and related regulations. The initiative also plays a role in informing future grant opportunities and capacity-building efforts for CID establishment in New South Wales.
Funding is available to CID proponents to support the preparation of required documentation, with applicants allowed to submit one application at a time. The level of funding depends on the size of the proposed CID boundary, with up to $150,000 available for areas with 125 parcels of land or fewer, and up to $350,000 for those exceeding this threshold.
To be eligible, applicants must be an incorporated association or a legal entity intending to become one, must have previously received funding under the CID Pilot Program or Uptown Grant program and completed all related reporting requirements, and must be located within one of the seven designated Local Government Areas where CIDs can be established.
The programme is administered by Cities and Active Transport and is aimed at supporting structured, collaborative approaches to improving local business environments and community spaces across New South Wales.
For more information, visit NSW Government.
