Applications for the $68.6 million Local Economic Recovery program, co-funded by the Federal and Victorian governments, open on 27 October.
Sixty percent of the fund (or $42 million) will be dedicated to regional economic projects and programs, and 40 percent will go to local community projects.
As part of the $42 million regional economic stream, $34 million will be set aside for regional economic stimulus and resilience grants of up to $5 million: these are open to private businesses, industry groups, councils, and Alpine resorts, and other local groups.
Under this stream, a further $8 million will be dedicated to regional economic programs, such as initiatives to boost skills, services, and industry specialisation.
Under the $26 million local community stream, grants of up to $2 million can be awarded for projects that focus on any line of bushfire recovery, including business, economy and tourism, wellbeing, the environment, or facilities and infrastructure.
It is open to Community Recovery Committees, businesses, councils, and other local groups.
To ensure newly elected councils can have their say, regional economic stream funds will be allocated by January 2021, and funds for local community stream projects will be released in rounds from January 2021 onwards.
Local community grants have multiple tranches, closing in November 2020 and April and August 2021. The regional economic stimulus grants close in December 2020 with grants awarded in January 2021.
Click here to view the guidelines and application process.