Apply for Local Capability Fund: Supplying Key Projects Round (Australia)

Focus Areas

• The focus of this round will be on assisting SMEs supplying to projects in these priority sectors:
  • Energy (oil and gas renewables)
  • Mining
  • Civil construction
  • Defence
  • Marine

Funding Information

• The maximum grant amount under this round is $50,000 per applicant. Applicants are required to co-contribute to the approved activities. The LCF will cover 50 per cent of eligible project costs, excluding GST.

Eligible Expenditure

• To be eligible, expenditure must:
  • Be incurred by you within the project period
  • Meet the eligible expenditure guidelines below.
  • Be at least $10,000 in total.
• Eligible activities must be implemented in WA and have a clear and direct link to the grant objective. The following activities are eligible for funding:
  • External Expertise:
    • Planning and Business Advice:
      • Strategic and business planning
      • Development and implementation of marketing plans
      • Supply chain facilitation
      • Tender submission advice and preparation
      • Preparation and submission of applications for other government and international grants
    • Improvements to Internal Business Infrastructure / Systems:
      • Production systems
      • Transportation and distribution systems
      • IT and communication systems, including cyber security
      • Operational systems and other activities necessary to meet the pre-qualification
      • requirements of the target market
    • Training:
      • Up-skilling of employees to improve operational processes
      • Training as part of the employer’s staff development requirements
      • Travel and accommodation costs associated with training where local options are not available
      • Costs involved in bringing registered trainers to deliver local group training
  • Plant and Equipment:
    • Acquiring new equipment or machinery
    • Acquiring second-hand equipment or machinery through a dealer
    • Modifying existing equipment or machinery
    • Upgrades or expansions to applicant-owned business operating facilities
    • Purchase of specialised motor vehicles used exclusively for business purposes (e.g., bobcats,
    • forklifts, cherry pickers, back hoes, bucket trucks) Note: Utility vehicles, 4x4s and vans are not
    • considered specialised vehicles
    • Purchase of specialised computer hardware and software (e.g., tender management software;
    • project management software; online sales and marketing systems)
    • Related freight and installation costs on capital expenditure.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for funding under this round, applicants must:
  • Have their principal place of business in Western Australia and remain based there for at least 12 months after submitting the application. This must align with the ‘Main business location’ listed in ABN Lookup.
  • Have been operating in Western Australia for at least three years at the time of application submission.
  • Primarily supply goods or services to businesses or government, rather than relying on walk-in retail trade. However, consideration will be given to businesses whose proposed activities will enable them to shift or expand into broader supply chains.
  • Have been registered for GST for at least 12 months before applying and intend to remain registered for the next 12 months.
  • Be a solvent business at the time of application and throughout the project duration.
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
  • Be a for-profit business, or an incorporated not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation operating as a commercial enterprise.
  • Be an SME with fewer than 200 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees at the time of application.

For more information, visit Government of Western Australia.