Following the government’s expenditure review, the Regional Investment Activation Fund (RIAF) Streams One and Two, will no longer proceed, and no funding will be allocated.
The decision represents the NSW Government’s refocusing of priorities, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcomes for regional NSW.
The NSW Government is introducing a different model for regional funding and will redirect funding towards new ways of investing in regional communities.
To find other grants and funding opportunities please visit: Grants and Funding Finder.
Regional Investment Activation Fund
This grant funding aims to:
- Drive increased productivity, innovation and business competitiveness in regional NSW
- Activate new industries
- Promote industry cluster developments
- Deliver new and sustainable employment opportunities.
This grant is administered by the Department of Regional NSW.
Stream One is an open, competitive grants program with a two-stage application and assessment process (Expression of Interest followed by Detailed Application). Eligible applications will be assessed on their comparative merits against the nominated eligibility and assessment criteria.
Stream Two is an open, non-competitive grants program where applicants can contact the Department to apply for funding. Applications will be assessed individually, without reference to the comparative merits of other applications. Stream Two aims to provide increased flexibility to secure investments that are time-sensitive and strategically significant for a priority industry or location.
Resources
The following resources and tools are available to support applicants with their submissions. Detailed information about eligibility, funding categories and how to apply can be found in the grant guidelines for each stream.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
File
Sample Data Sheet (PDF 1.13MB)File
Sample Funding Deed - Stream 1 (PDF 477.07KB)File
Sample Funding Deed - Stream 2 (PDF 424.22KB)File
Regional Investment Activation Fund - Regional NSW LGAs (PDF 70.29KB)- The NSW Government’s 20-Year Economic Vision for Regional NSW (Refresh).
Online Industry Briefing
An online industry briefing was held on Tuesday 11 October to provide an overview of the Regional Investment Activation Fund grant funding, eligibility requirements and application process for both streams, and to answer questions from potential applicants.
A video recording of the online industry briefing is at: https://youtu.be/FrwiATUS_60.
Support
Staff from the Department of Regional NSW are available to provide information and support for Regional Investment Activation Fund applicants, please contact us via:
Invest Regional NSW is a dedicated team that leads investment attraction, promotion and strategy work across regional NSW, for further investor support, visit Invest Regional NSW.
Applicants should seek advice from their legal, business and financial advisers to determine the suitability of the funding before applying.