Apply for Forestry Transition Fund (Round Two) – Australia

The Forestry Transition Fund – Round Two (this Round) is available primarily to support job creation, particularly for displaced timber workers, in localities significantly impacted by the transition from native timber harvesting including the eleven towns and communities that have an LDS. Funding will also be available in other Victorian towns or communities where there has been a demonstrated impact on local economies and employment due to the forestry transition. Allocation of the funding will be guided by the following principles:

• funded projects are to offer good value-for-money for the State’s contribution
• funds will be spent primarily in towns or communities that are particularly vulnerable to the industry transition due to:
  • the number of affected jobs in the town or community
  • impacted jobs to population ratio
  • the remoteness of the town or community
  • the level of disadvantage experienced in the community.

Funding Information

• Funding for the Transition Fund – Round Two will be $12 million for the 2024-25 financial year.
• Grants of $10,000 to $1.0 million (excluding GST) are available.
• Successful grant applicants will also be eligible to apply for a Transitioning Timber Worker Employment Incentive Payment of up to $20,000 per transitioning timber worker employed by the grant recipient as part of the funded project. This is in addition to funding provided for the project itself. Applicants are not able to claim this payment for themselves.

Eligible Activities

• Activities that may be eligible for funding include:
  • the expansion of existing or development of new facilities such as factories, offices or shops
  • the introduction of new technologies, innovations, plant and equipment, systems and processes to improve business growth.

Eligible locations

• This Round supports job creation and business development in towns affected by the Forestry Transition Program.
• Applications will be considered from eligible businesses or organisations operating in or near Benalla, Corryong, Heyfield, Koondrook, Murrindindi (Alexandra, Taggerty, Buxton and Marysville), Noojee, Nowa Nowa, Orbost, Swifts Creek, Yarra Ranges (Yarra Junction, Warburton and Powelltown) and Yarram.
• Applications will also be considered from other regional Victorian towns or communities where there has been a demonstrated impact on local economies and employment due to the forestry transition.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications for the Round will be accepted from:
  • private sector businesses
  • business and industry groups including but not limited to:
    • chambers of commerce and business associations
    • industry peak bodies
    • business and industry clusters and networks (noting that a cluster or network would need to nominate a business or entity to enter into the funding agreement and take on primary responsibility and liability for delivering the project)
    • incorporated not-for-profit organisations that operate as a business
    • Local Government Authorities.

For more information, visit DEECA.