Regional Night-Time Economy Program - FAQs
Find answers to frequently asked questions on the Program, application process, eligibility, assessment process, project delivery and capacity-building component.
Please refer to the Regional Night-Time Economy Program Guidelines (PDF 1.33MB) for further information on the Program.
Information session
Information sessions were held on 23 October, 28 October and 3 November 2025. Watch the recording to learn more about the pilot round of the Regional Night-Time Economy Program.
Regional Night-Time Economy Program Online Information Session
About the Program
The Regional Night-Time Economy Program is an integrated capacity-building and funding program that supports business collectives in regional towns to leverage existing opportunities and deliver collaborative initiatives that develop their local economies from the day into the night.
(See page 8 within the Program Guidelines).
The Program will encourage local business collaboration and support the development of vibrant night-time economies in regional NSW.
The Program’s objectives include:
- increase capacity and confidence in regional businesses to identify and leverage existing local economic and cultural opportunities
- strengthen coordination between local businesses to deliver collective initiatives with a shared vision and strategy
- increase number of collective initiatives in regional NSW that promote and support more vibrant town centres and precincts.
The intended outcome of the Program is that business collectives are supported to deliver collaborative initiatives that develop their local night-time economy.
(See page 7 within the Program Guidelines).
The Program consists of two components: capacity-building and grant funding. The capacity-building component is designed to support business collectives in the planning and delivery of their grant-funded project.
The Program will be delivered across two cohorts, with five business collectives in each. Applicants can indicate their preferred cohort during the application process based on the 12-month funding period that best suits their Project Proposal:
- Cohort 1 – 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
- Cohort 2 – 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027
A Program timeline, with key milestones for both the capacity-building and grant for each Cohort, is outlined on page 12 of the Program Guidelines. Please note the timeline is subject to change.
The Program is designed for business collectives in regional NSW towns who want to develop their local economies from the day into the night.
The Business Collective is the core project team that participates in the Program and leads the delivery of the grant-funded project, as outlined on page 6 of the Program Guidelines.
The Business Collective must include at least six local businesses (with different ABNs) based in the same eligible Local Government Area (LGA). See page 13 for the eligibility requirements for a Business Collective.
Applicants can apply for between $100,000 and $200,000 (excl. GST) in grant funding, with costs to support project coordination, marketing and promotion, and events and activations.
(See page 12 within the Program Guidelines).
The Program can accommodate up to ten successful Applicants in this pilot round.
This round of the Program is a pilot phase, providing an opportunity to test the approach, learn from the outcomes, and assess its effectiveness. Insights from this round will inform decisions on the Program’s future roll-out.
From February to April 2025, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner (O24HEC) consulted with stakeholders across NSW, including local businesses, industry groups, and councils, to understand the needs of regional business communities in relation to their going-out economy.
The consultation identified that regional urban centres often have inconsistent and/or underdeveloped going-out economies, with activity peaking during specific times or events. This inconsistency was seen as a barrier to business viability and a key factor impacting experience and perceptions of vibrancy in regional towns.
Insights from this consultation have shaped the development of the Regional Pilot Program.
(See page 7 within the Program Guidelines).
Eligibility
To be eligible, an Applicant must be a membership-based organisation that meets the eligibility criteria outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines.
The Applicant must identify the core project team (referred to as the Business Collective), which must comprise at least six (6) local businesses that meet the eligibility criteria provided on page 13 of the Program Guidelines.
The Applicant must be one of the following eligible entity types to apply:
- Incorporated Association;
- Company Limited by Guarantee; or
- Non-distributing Co-operative.
(See page 13 within the Program Guidelines).
Examples of membership-based organisations include but are not limited to industry groups, business chambers or associations that are one of the eligible entity types listed on page 13 of the Program Guidelines.
To be eligible, the membership-based organisation must identify at least six (6) local businesses to form the core project team, known as the Business Collective, who will participate in the Program and lead the delivery of the grant-funded project.
See page 13 within the Program Guidelines for eligibility requirements for the Business Collective, including the sectors that they must come from.
The Business Collective must comprise at least six (6) local businesses. There is no maximum number of businesses that can form part of the Collective. Details of all the businesses in the Collective will need to be provided as part of the application.
Businesses in the Collective are not required to be registered members of the membership-based organisation. However, each member of the Business Collective (including those that are registered members of the membership-based organisation) must sign a Consent Form to be represented by the membership-based organisation for the purposes of the application.
(See page 12 of the Program Guidelines).
The Business Collective participates in the capacity-building component of the Program and leads the delivery of the grant-funded project, as outlined on page 6 of the Program Guidelines.
The membership-based organisation supports and represents a business collective for the purpose of submitting the application and executing the funding deed, if successful.
The Applicant must be registered for GST at the time of application. (See page 13 within the Program Guidelines).
All membership-based organisations applying for the program must be registered for GST, as outlined in the eligibility criteria on page 13 of the Program Guidelines.
GST registration is important because it:
- Helps manage grant funds correctly, including invoicing and reporting.
- Allows quick onboarding and timely payments if your application is successful.
For more information on GST registration, including requirements and how to apply, please visit the Service NSW website.
The Applicant must have an applicable ABN at the time of application. (See page 13 within the Program Guidelines).
As outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines, the Applicant must be a membership-based organisation that has a membership register.
The membership register should contain the organisation's current member businesses. The relevant document uploaded as evidence for this eligibility requirement may be in the form of a list, directory, or any other format decided by the entity.
Please note that it is the composition of the Business Collective (core project team) that is being assessed under the ‘Business Collective composition’ criteria (see page 18 of the Program Guidelines) – not the composition of the membership register.
No, the membership-based organisation cannot be counted as one of the minimum six (6) businesses in the Business Collective. However, representatives from the organisation can still be members of the Collective (the core project team), as long as there are at least six other businesses that meet the eligibility criteria set out on page 13 of the Program Guidelines.
Applicants are only permitted to submit one application for the Program.
To be eligible, the Applicant must meet the eligibility criteria outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines. This includes being one of the following entity types:
- Incorporated Association
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Non-distributing Co-operative.
If your Business Collective does not meet this criteria, you must be represented by a membership-based organisation that meets the eligibility criteria (the Applicant).
Businesses that are not from one of the sectors listed on page 13 of the Program Guidelines can be part of the Business Collective as long as there are at least six other businesses in the Collective that are from one of the sectors listed.
Each of the businesses in the Business Collective must sign the Consent Form (included as a template to the Application Form) as outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines.
At the time of application, Applicants must meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines. This includes being an eligible entity type, being registered for GST and having an applicable ABN.
Applications from Business Collectives that are still in the process of becoming an eligible entity at the time of application will be considered ineligible.
(See page 13 within the Program Guidelines).
The Department cannot provide legal, business or financial advice about entity types.
Business Collectives can refer to the Good Governance Guide (PDF 522.55KB) developed for the Uptown District Acceleration Program, which includes guidance on incorporation and governance for the eligible entity types.
For the purposes of this Program, regional NSW includes all non-metropolitan LGAs, in line with the NSW Budget 2025-26 (PDF 3.3MB).
The Department reserves the right to amend this categorisation at its discretion.
A full list of eligible LGAs can be found on page 14 in the Program Guidelines.
LGAs located in metropolitan areas are not eligible for this Program, including Greater Sydney, the City of Newcastle and the City of Wollongong, in line with the NSW Budget 2025-26.
(See page 13 within the Program Guidelines).
At least six of the businesses that form part of the Collective must be based in the identified eligible LGA
(See page 14 within the Program Guidelines).
The proximity of the businesses to the identified town centre or precinct may be considered when assessing the relevance of the businesses, as part of the Business Collective composition assessment criteria.
(See page 18 within the Program Guidelines).
A Letter of Endorsement from the relevant local council organisation is required as part of your application. Please reach out to Regional-NTE-Program@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au if you need assistance in finding a contact within your local council.
(See page 13 within the Program Guidelines).
The Letter of Endorsement must be from a senior executive of the local council organisation (e.g. Chief Executive; General Manager; Director), not an elected official such as a councillor.
(See page 13 within the Program Guidelines).
As outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines, the Letter of Endorsement from the relevant local council organisation must:
- confirm that the council is aware of the contents of the application prior to submission
- confirm the council’s support for the initiatives proposed in the application (see assessment criteria: project proposal on page 19 of the Program Guidelines)
- provide the contact details of a relevant staff member that can be contacted about the application.
If the Letter of Endorsement is not available at the time of application, Applicants must provide evidence (e.g. email correspondence) confirming that the council are in the process of obtaining formal endorsement from a senior staff member. The final Letter of Endorsement must be submitted as soon as it becomes available and may be required prior to any funding decision.
The Department will not consider the application if it does not satisfy all the eligibility criteria outlined on page 13.
As outlined in the eligibility criteria on page 13 of the Program Guidelines, applicants must obtain a Letter of Endorsement from the relevant local council.
Before applying, applicants should share their Project Proposal (see page 19 of the Program Guidelines) with council. This gives councils the opportunity to collaborate and provide input on the collective’s initiatives proposed for the 12-month grant period, ensuring the project aligns with local priorities for night-time vibrancy.
Councils are not required to assess the application or determine eligibility.
Councils are encouraged to collaborate with their local business communities to help identify eligible applications for the Program and support businesses to come together. Councils can also support applications by considering opportunities in their LGA for the Business Collective to leverage through the Program.
Applicants must also provide a Letter of Endorsement from a senior staff member of their local council as part of their application (see page 13 of the Program Guidelines).
Business Collectives that are successful in their application will be supported to collaborate with their local council during the Program.
For an overview on Councils role in the Program, please download the Regional Night-Time Economy Program Factsheet for Councils (PDF 943.79KB).
The Regional NTE Program aims to encourage local business collaboration by requiring that a minimum of 6 local businesses form part of the Collective. Local council itself should not be considered as one of the minimum 6 local businesses.
However, council-owned or operated businesses (such as galleries, museums, theatres or libraries) may be included, provided they meet the eligibility criteria outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines.
Council are essential to the success of the Program. For an overview of councils' role, please download the Regional Night-Time Economy Program Factsheet for Councils (PDF 943.79KB).
If the membership-based organisation or business collective has received funding as part of any round of the Uptown Grant Program, you are not eligible to apply for this Program, even if you are in an eligible LGA.
An Uptown Grant recipient is a business collective or entity comprising members that are substantially the same, and that represent the same town centre/precinct, as an entity that has previously executed an Uptown Grant Program funding deed. The final decision on whether an applicant is an Uptown Grant recipient will be determined by the Department.
(See page 6 within the Program Guidelines).
If your business collective or entity has received grant funding as part of the NSW Government’s Uptown Grant Program, you are not eligible to apply.
If you’ve received funding through another NSW Government program for activity relating to your application for this Program, you must declare the source, purpose and amount of funding already received. This information can be considered as part of the assessment of your application, with consideration given to equity and best use of NSW Government investment.
Yes, businesses operated by federal, state and local government departments and agencies can be part of the Business Collective if they meet the eligibility criteria at page 13 of Program Guidelines.
If your application is deemed ineligible, you will be advised via email, and your application will not proceed to assessment.
Applying
The Applicant is the membership-based organisation that meets the eligibility criteria outlined on page 13 of the Guidelines.
A representative from the membership-based organisation or the Business Collective can submit the application. It is important to ensure that all application details are accurate.
Business Collectives can leverage a range of opportunities including economic or cultural opportunities. Examples are provided on page 9 within the Program Guidelines and should be used as a starting point for identifying what might be relevant to your town centre or precinct.
(See page 9 within the Program Guidelines).
Yes, the examples provided on page 9 of the Program Guidelines are not exhaustive. Business Collectives are encouraged to identify opportunities that are relevant to their local context, even if they aren’t explicitly listed in the Guidelines.
Collective initiatives that develop local economies from day into the night are supported by the Program. The focus on the Program is the night-time economy, which refers to economic activity taking place between 6pm and 6am. Applications might also include initiatives that fall outside this period.
Types of collective initiatives might include but are not limited to:
- developing new experiences to address off-peak periods
- curating new activations to capitalise on a major event
- expanding and diversifying offerings to reach new audiences
- extending activity to cater to local consumer demand (e.g. collective late-night trading).
(See page 9 of the Program Guidelines)
Types of initiatives that are not supported by the Program include:
- business as usual (BAU) activities for any party associated with this application
- existing programming, events and festivals delivered by any party associated with this application
- infrastructure, such as physical signage, lighting, installations, and rejuvenation of shop fronts or footpaths.
(See page 9 within the Program Guidelines).
As part of the assessment process, applications will be assessed on community and stakeholder outreach. The purpose of this is to demonstrate that the Business Collective is committed to engaging with and building support from stakeholders and the community beyond its existing participants.
Examples of stakeholders that you should engage with include:
- First Nations community and organisations
- Arts and cultural organisations
- Local businesses that are not currently part of the Business Collective
- Destination networks
- Local festival and event organisations
- Universities and educational institutions.
Effective engagement helps broaden collaboration, strengthen partnerships and build buy-in for your Collective’s vision and project. For more detail, refer to the Assessment Criteria on page 18 of the Program Guidelines.
A minimum of 25% of the total allocated grant funding must be spent on project coordination for your Collective’s activities.
The remaining funding may be used to market and promote the Business Collective’s initiatives to increase consumer awareness and engagement with the town centre/precinct. This could include advertising and/or marketing campaigns and public relation activities.
Funding may also be used for events and activations which involve at least three venues to increase vibrancy in the town centre or precinct. The activity may include costs associated with artist fees, production, AV and staging equipment hire, programming and production development fees or private transport initiatives.
See pages 15 and 16 within the Program Guidelines for a detailed overview of eligible activities and costs.
Only eligible activities will be funded under the Program. See page 17 within the Program Guidelines for a list of activities that cannot be funded under the Program.
The Program will be delivered across two cohorts. Applicants can indicate their preferred cohort based on the grant funding period that best suits the 12-month Project Proposal which will be submitted as part of this application:
- Cohort 1: 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
- Cohort 2: 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027
O24HEC will consider the nominated Cohort as part of the application assessment process, however this preference is not guaranteed.
Applicants can indicate in the Application Form where they do not want to be considered for the other Cohort.
(See page 12 within the Program Guidelines).
The project holistically refers to the funded activities that the Business Collective will deliver over the grant funding period to develop the night-time economy in the town centre or precinct. The eligible activities are outlined on page 15 and 16 of the Program Guidelines.
As part of your application, you must complete a Project Proposal which includes:
- A list of opportunities to leverage for increased night-time vibrancy, with a description for each (see page 19 of the Program Guidelines)
- A breakdown of the collective initiative(s) that the Business Collective propose to deliver to leverage these opportunities (see page 19 of the Program Guidelines)
- An overview of how the Business Collective will promote these initiatives to its target audience and which existing promotional platforms and channels will be leveraged to do so (see page 19 of the Program Guidelines).
A Project Proposal template (DOCX 49.01KB) has been developed to support your application and use of the template is mandatory.
The template provides an example demonstrating how to complete the Project Proposal template. It should be used as a guide to help you develop and complete your own Project Proposal. A word count has been provided where relevant to guide the level of detail expected in your responses.
All projects must be delivered within the 12-month grant funding period, which depends on the cohort you are part of:
- Cohort 1: 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
- Cohort 2: 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027
Please note, any costs incurred outside the 12-month funding period are ineligible.
Yes, it is mandatory to use the following templates in your application:
- Consent Form (DOCX 45.91KB) – each business in the Business Collective must sign this form.
Where these templates have not been used for the application, the O24HEC reserves the right to consider the application to be non-conforming and not consider it further, at its absolute discretion.
No, Applicants are not required to co-contribute funds. See page 17 of the Program Guidelines for ineligible costs that would need to be funded separately if relevant.
No, costs incurred prior to the grant period are not eligible.
Assessment Process
No changes can be made to your application after the closing date unless we ask you for more information. If you need to make changes to your submitted application before the closing date, please contact us at Regional-NTE-Program@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au.
Applications that are deemed insufficient, incomplete, or incorrect may be considered ineligible for funding.
The assessment and approval process can take several weeks, and successful applicants will be notified as soon as possible on the outcome of their grant application.
If your application is ineligible, you will be advised via email within 14 business days after the closing date of the Program and your application will not proceed to assessment.
(See page 23 of the Program Guidelines).
Applicants who meet the assessment criteria but are not ranked among the top ten most competitive applications may be placed on a waitlist for consideration if any additional spaces become available. These waitlisted applications will be considered ‘unfunded applications of merit’ and ranked.
It is common for grant application outcomes to be released to applicants under embargo. The embargo helps to ensure the public announcement has the greatest impact possible in promoting the program. During the embargo period, applicants must not publicise the outcome in public domains such as social forums, websites, journals or newspapers.
The embargo applies to all applicants, including those who have been unsuccessful.
Capacity-Building
The businesses within the Business Collective participate in the capacity-building component of the Program.
The capacity-building requirements for the Business Collective include attending a one-day in-person bootcamp (with at least six representatives present) and participating in online workshops. The bootcamp and workshops are designed to support the Business Collective with planning and delivering the grant-funded project.
(See page 11 within the Program Guidelines).
A one-day in-person bootcamp will be held locally for each Business Collective.
Bootcamps for Cohort 1 will take place between April and June 2026 and for Cohort 2 between July and August 2026. The exact dates will be confirmed if you are accepted into the Program.
The online workshops will take place throughout the 12-month funding period for each cohort. Provisional timelines can be found on page 12 of the Program Guidelines.
Bootcamp and workshop topics may include:
- Vision and storytelling
- Strategic planning
- Programming and diversification
- Understanding the policy landscape (e.g. the Vibrancy Reforms and Special Entertainment Precincts)
- Marketing and promotion.
No, the capacity-building bootcamp and workshops are free to attend. Costs associated with attending the capacity-building bootcamp or workshops are not eligible costs under the grant funding. A one-day in-person bootcamp will be held locally for each Business Collective.
Project delivery
As part of the Program, successful applicants will be supported to produce a Project Plan and strategy for how they will develop their night-time economy over their 12-month funding period.
This work will involve refining and detailing the Project Proposal submitted as part of your application. This Project Plan, building on the Project Proposal, will determine the Collective’s actions and deliverables for the 12-month funding period.
Additional tasks may be required to support your Collective’s capacity-building over the Program.
Yes, there will be an opportunity for your Business Collective to refine and build on what is submitted as part of your application, after the capacity-building bootcamp. However, any amendments should not represent a material change to the project which was assessed in the application and selected for funding.
The project coordination function will be expected to undertake activities including project management, administration and business development. A list of eligible activities is outlined on page 15 of the Program Guidelines.
No, you do not need a Project Coordinator in place at the time of application. The Project Coordinator is expected to be in place to coordinate the funded project through the grant delivery period.
As outlined on page 14 of the Program Guidelines, the coordination function can be established through:
- salary/wages and entitlements for employees specifically engaged for the project, i.e. the direct employment of a staff member to manage the coordination of the Business Collective and its activities
- contract employment of a staff member(s) to manage the coordination of the Business Collective and its activities
- third-party professional services to manage the coordination of the Business Collective and its activities, e.g. bookkeeping systems, legal fees.
The Program is designed to support collaboration between businesses. Requiring at least three venues for events and activations encourages collective effort, strengthens local business connections, and attracts visitation across the wider town centre or precinct.
Multi-venue events or activations must adhere to local planning controls and approvals, and have the endorsement of any relevant sponsors. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure they are aware of all approvals or consents required, and should demonstrate that they have consulted with relevant parties, including the relevant local council organisation.
The program primarily focuses on supporting the night-time economy, which is activity taking place between 6pm and 6am. While events and activations that take place during this period better align with the purpose of the program, we recognise that vibrant night-time economies are supported by activities that flow from the day into the night. Therefore, applications can include events that start during the day but continue into the night.
No, funding cannot be used for existing programming, events and festivals delivered by any party associated with this application.
Help and support
Yes, provided the application has not been submitted. Please send your request to Regional-NTE-Program@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au and provide the new contact person and their email address for us to change access in SmartyGrants.
Yes. Multiple people can collaborate on an application using SmartyFile — a free tool that helps you manage your applications, save your organisation’s details, and work together with your team.
How it works:
- Go to smartyfile.com.au
- Log in using your SmartyGrants details (or create a new account if you don’t have one).
- Create your organisation profile and add any team members who help with applications.
- Upload common files (for example: insurance, financials) so they’re ready to use next time you apply.
- Pre-fill your details into SmartyGrants forms that support SmartyFile. Your saved information will appear automatically — and can still be edited if needed.
Applicants may contact Department staff Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm on:
Email: Regional-NTE-Program@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au
In the interests of probity and ensuring fairness, Department staff are not able to assist applicants with specific content related queries or comment on their applications.