Economic recovery
The Economic Recovery workstream supports the social and economic recovery and long-term adaptation of the Northern Rivers region through reconstruction, employment, and resilience programs.
Economic recovery
NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is working with councils and the private sector to deliver supporting infrastructure for the Northern Rivers region to encourage and increase economic investment into the future.
The economic recovery programs will ensure reconstruction takes place hand in hand with local business development and provides employment and training opportunities for the Northern Rivers community.
The economic recovery programs include:
- Northern Rivers Towns and Villages Resilient Business Activation Program
- Business capacity building and support for reconstruction and disaster preparedness
- Northern Rivers Community Resilience Grants program
- Northern Rivers Economic Adaptation Framework (as part of the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan)
Northern Rivers Towns and Villages Resilient Business Activation Program
This $9.5 million grant program will support the economic recovery of villages and town centres in the Northern Rivers through direct assistance to small and medium sized businesses and local government-led Central Business Districts (CBD) activation and revitalisation projects.
The program is part of our commitment to support long-term recovery, betterment and disaster resilience.
It will be delivered across the seven most impacted Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers region: Tweed, Ballina, Byron, Lismore, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley.
Funding is available through two targeted streams:
- Stream 1 – Infrastructure support for small and medium sized businesses
- Grant amounts – from $250,000 to $2 million
- Stream 2 – CBD activation and revitalisation projects delivered by Councils
- Grant amounts – from $50,000 to $500,000
How to apply
Please see program guidelines for information on how to apply program details, expression of interest and application closing dates, selection criteria, assessment criteria and additional information. Please also see the program Frequently Asked Questions document.
Submit your application form through the Smarty Grants portal:
https://rd.smartygrants.com.au/rbap
Expression of interest applications are now open. Please contact programdesigndelivery@regional.nsw.gov.au for more information about the Northern Rivers Towns and Villages Resilient Business Activation Program. If business and potential applicants wish to speak with us please call 0447 071 702.
Expression of interest applications close on: 4 October 2024
The Program Guidelines (PDF 324.68KB) and FAQs (PDF 115.77KB) are also available in PDF format.
Aboriginal business and community engagement
RA has a dedicated focus on Aboriginal engagement. Ensuring Aboriginal business and community organisations are actively engaged for their wisdom and cultural knowledge through the recovery. Understanding and embedding cultural ways of knowing, being and doing will enable reconstruction and rebuilding efforts to incorporate both the historic and contemporary value of Aboriginal cultural heritage.
RA will work to ensure, where possible, reconstruction and rebuilding efforts are converted into opportunities for local Aboriginal businesses and training for local communities.
In addition, RA are developing a localised Connecting with Country Framework to underpin our work and its principles will be embedded across all engagement, programs and projects.
These programs will work closely with the Infrastructure Coordination Office, Resilient Homes Program and Resilient Lands Program.