Connecting business to government
Getting Government Help
Government assistance can come in a number of different forms – Cash grants, co-funding of projects, invitations to events, attendance on trade missions, introductions to potential customers & suppliers or even practical help navigating the ever complicated world of government paperwork.
The great news is that all Australian governments, local, state and federal, want to help business and they all have dedicated staff whose job it is to provide that help.
The challenge for most businesses is being able to find the right type of support for what they need help with. And depending on what challenges you’re business is facing at any given time, the type of support, and where best to go to get it will vary enormously!
Government Grants
Government Grants are perhaps the simplest thing to navigate. They generally have a set application process, a set timeframe within which to lodge the application and a reasonably black and white eligibility criteria. There are a few things which can make the process a bit trickier, for example if you see the term ‘competitive process’ then it is no longer just about being eligible, you also need to put together an application which shows you’re is amongst the best options available. What does best mean? That will depend on which government, which department, current policy settings and who is evaluating the application.
For a list of currently available grants in Australia click here to visit the grants.gov.au site
For more information about two grants that Bellajack have specialist staff working on, the Export Marketing Development Grant and the Research & Development Tax Incentive Program, click on the Government Grants menu button above or you can simply click here.
Co-Funding of Projects
Co-funding is something that most governments will consider, either via formal programs or in isolation for really good projects which can show a clear and major economic pay-off (jobs, investment, exports). The key is in putting an overwhelming case together and presenting it to the right people at the right government departments so that it highlights all the reasons the government will want to support it. If your feasibility study demonstrates that your project will deliver what the government wants to achieve and you can navigate your way to that right person you need, then there is chance you will be able to secure some co-funding for your project.
If you have a fantastic project which you feel deserves government support, give us a call (0400 906 864) or contact us via email at contact@bellajack.com. We can give you an idea as to whether we feel you have a chance and what things you may need to get squared away before making the approach to ask for help.
Practical Assistance
In terms of practical support, each local and state government has some great resources. Whichever your local government, check out their website as most will have a dedicated business section covering marketing support, advice on starting a business, permit requirements as well as networking and other events that you can be a part of. Here’s the link to Melbourne City council’s business section which will give you a good idea of what to look out for.
State governments have a great range of practical tools you can access online too. Check out each state’s business website which is simply business.nsw.gov.au for NSW, business.vic.gov.au for Victoria, business.qld.gov.au for Queensland etc. Most states have specific Small Business programs you can access if you are an SME (fewer than 200 employees) which once again can be found pretty quickly via an online search. And some states provide a network of state government business offices around the globe that can help you if you are looking to export or import – Victoria’s is particularly good.
The federal government provides business resources via the business.gov.au site. Here you will find all the headline information you need when it comes to federally available business support You may not be able to find all of the detail you need to access support or to maximise entitlements, but it is a great place to start!
For more information about what government grants are available please go to our Government Grants section.