Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program Frequently Asked Questions

View the frequently asked questions for the Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program.

Where does the project need to be located or delivered?

Projects must be located in one of the 95 regional NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs), the Unincorporated Far West region or on Lord Howe Island. Projects located in the Sydney metropolitan area are ineligible.

Refer to the Program Guidelines for a detailed list of eligible locations.

Can I submit multiple applications?

Individual applicants may submit a maximum of one application for an infrastructure project and one application for a service and programs project across all key focus areas.

What are the Regional Development Trust's key focus areas?

Key focus area	Objectives	Priorities
Sustainable regional industries	Enabling regional industries to grow and adapt with structural and environmental change.	supporting opportunities for emerging and engine industries enabling industry with the right workforce growing domestic manufacturing and supply building climate adaptation and resilience
Aboriginal economic development and enterprise	Delivering sustainable Aboriginal economic, social, and cultural wellbeing by encouraging Aboriginal business development, enterprise and strengthening on-Country connections.	enabling Aboriginal business development and economic participation leveraging Aboriginal-owned assets supporting community-based enterprise
Community connection and capacity building	Empowering regional communities to maximise the potential of their people, infrastructure and environment.	activating community infrastructure to ensure regional NSW is a great place to live and work building community resilience, with a focus on economic adaptability
Improving regional service delivery	Increasing access, quality, and sustainability of services to better meet the needs of people in regional NSW.	growing the local workforce improving service delivery and access to quality services to maintain and grow regional communities

What does the term regionally significant mean?

Regionally significant is defined under this program as improving regional development outcomes in 2 or more eligible Local Government Areas (LGA).

Exemptions can apply to remote and very remote areas or on a case-by-case basis and applicants will be required to demonstrate why they should be considered exempt. Refer to Appendix A of the Program Guidelines for a list of remote and very remote LGAs that have been determined using the Remoteness Areas provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The LGAs identified as remote and very remote have the majority of the LGA's population residing within a remote or very remote area, or the majority of the land mass of the LGA sitting within a remote or very remote area.

Do I need to prove my not-for-profit status?

Yes. Applicants who do not provide evidence of their not-for-profit status will be assumed to be a for-profit organisation and will need to provide a 50% cash co-contribution.

Do I need a co-contribution?

Applications must include a cash co-contribution, with the exception of Aboriginal-owned organisations that can provide some or all of the required co-contribution in-kind.

Co-contributions may include confirmed funding from the Australian Government. Funding received from the NSW Government cannot be included as part of the co-contribution requirement.

Requests for an exemption from the mandatory co-contribution requirement may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applicants wishing to claim an exemption will be required to provide details of their request as part of the application process.

What does it mean for infrastructure projects to be investment-ready?

If you are applying for an infrastructure project, you are required to submit a business case demonstrating your project can commence within 6 months of the commencement date of a funding deed.

The business case should demonstrate that all necessary project and planning approvals are in place at the time of application, or evidence that action to secure the required approvals has commenced and that the project can be delivered within 4 years of the commencement date of the funding deed, if successful.

If all necessary approvals are not in place at the time an application is submitted, funding deeds for successful projects will not be established until any approvals required for the project to commence are secured. If approvals are not secured within 12 months of the applicant signing the confidentiality undertaking on the letter of conditional offer of funding, the offer may be withdrawn at the discretion of the department.

How long do I have to deliver the project?

Projects must commence within 6 months of the commencement date of the funding deed and be completed within 4 years for infrastructure projects and within 2 years for the delivery of services and programs.

What support is available for me to submit an application?

The department can assist applicants to develop strong applications. Please contact regionaldevelopmenttrust@dpird.nsw.gov.au for a referral to your local Economic Development Manager or Regional Aboriginal Partnerships and Outcomes representative.

Please check with the department prior to submitting if you are unclear about any part of the application.