Local Capability Fund: Aboriginal Business Round with Clean Energy Incentive (Australia)

Objectives

• This round of funding is specifically designed to support eligible Western Australian Aboriginal SMEs to:
  • Participate in the clean energy supply chain, and/or
  • Improve their capability, capacity and competitiveness to supply goods, services and works to export markets, the Western Australian State or Local Government, the Australian Government, and the private business sector.

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 75 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:
  • Be at least 50% Aboriginal owned.
  • Be registered with either the Aboriginal Business Directory Western Australia or Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct.
  • 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 12 months 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.

For more information, visit Government of Western Australia.