Hills & Coast Business Grant Program 2025 (Australia)

Purpose

• The 2025 round of the Hills & Coast Business Grant aims to support the productivity and growth of manufacturing businesses through:
  • Procurement of new equipment that improves productivity, and/or;
  • Addressing challenges and/or barriers to business growth.

Funding Information

• Grant amount:
  • Minimum single grant: $2,500
  • Maximum single grant: $20,000.

Ineligible Costs

• Replacement of existing equipment that does not improve productivity.
• New equipment solely for reducing costs (eg; solar installations or more power efficient equipment) rather than increasing manufacturing productivity.
• Furniture.
• Standard software applications such as accounting software.
• Marketing costs including e-commerce investments.

Eligibility Criteria

• The proposed project must meet the Purpose of the grant outlined above.
• This grant is open to manufacturing businesses with an ABN. For the purposes of this grant, a manufacturing business is a business undertaking a process of value-adding and/or the processing of raw materials or parts into finished goods.
• Grant funding must be matched dollar for dollar (1:1). Matched funding greater than 1:1 will be viewed favourably.
• Costs incurred prior to signing of a grant agreement are not eligible. This includes deposits on equipment.
• Eligible expenditure is not defined but must clearly show in your application, how they are specific to your proposed project.
• Your project will benefit the economy and/or liveability of the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula or Kangaroo Island.
• An application from a consortium is welcome, however one organisation will need to submit the application form and be the lead party that enters into a grant agreement if successful.
• The proposed project must be completed in time to complete a project report and grant acquittal.
• Acquitting a grant means accurately reporting on the funded activities and the expenditure. You are required to demonstrate the funding has been used for the purpose intended in the application and ensure the terms of the funding agreement have been met.
• Recipients unable to acquit grants on time by the Project Report/Funding Acquittal Date may be asked to refund their Hills & Coast Business Grant.
• The following documents are mandatory application attachments:
  • Business Plan
  • Current Profit & Loss Statement
  • 2-year Financial Forecast

Ineligibility Criteria

• Previous recipients of this grant with outstanding acquittals are ineligible to apply for this funding round.
• Previous recipients of this grant in the last two (2) years are ineligible to apply.

Evaluation and Selection Process

• Eligible applications will be assessed against:
  • The Assessment Criteria in the grant application form.
  • Completeness and quality of the application.
  • Value (level of productivity and growth versus funding request).
• All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application.
• The selection panel may, but is not obliged to, seek further information or clarification from applicants.
• All decisions are final and there is no appeal process for applicants.

For more information, visit RDA AHFKI.