Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $100,000 to $200,000
- Application opened: 16 October 2025
- Application closes: 20 November 2025, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the Program are to:
- increase capacity and confidence of regional business collectives 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 the number of collective initiatives in regional NSW that promote and support more vibrant town centers and precincts.
Please refer to the Program Guidelines for further information, including eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and application process.
This program is administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
The Regional Night-Time Economy Program is an open, competitive grant program, open to a membership-based organisation that:
- is one of the following entity types:
- Incorporated Association
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Non-distributing Co-operative
- represents a town centre or precinct in an eligible LGA (see page 14 of the Program Guidelines)
- has an applicable Australian Business Number (ABN)
- is registered for GST
- has a bank account with an Australian financial institution
- is solvent
- can execute a funding deed with the NSW Government if the application is successful
- has a membership register
- has a governance framework in place, e.g. a constitution or rules.
The Applicant must identify the core project team (“Business Collective”) that must comprise at least six (6) local businesses that:
- each have a different ABN
- are based in the identified eligible LGA
- represent any of the following sectors:
- accommodation
- arts and culture
- entertainment
- festivals and events
- hospitality
- live music
- retail
- sport
- tourism
- wellness
- confirm a representative from their business will attend the in-person bootcamp as outlined in page 11 of the Program Guidelines
- sign the Consent Form (included as a template with the application form), which confirms:
- that the business agrees to be included as part of the Business Collective; and
- that the business accepts privacy, confidentiality and conflict of interest requirements
The application must also include a Letter of Endorsement from the relevant local council organisation, which:
- is from a senior staff member (e.g. Chief Executive; General Manager) of the council (the letter must not be from an elected official such as a councillor)
- confirms that the council is aware of the contents of the application prior to submission
- confirms the council’s support for the initiatives proposed in the application (see assessment criteria: project proposal on page 19 of the Program Guidelines)
- provides 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 to the O24HEC 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.
Eligible Local Government Areas
For the purposes of this Program, regional NSW includes all non-metropolitan LGAs, in line with the NSW Budget 2025-26.
The town centre or precinct must be located within one or more of the following LGAs:
Location that are eligible include Albury City, Armidale Regional, Ballina, Balranald, Bathurst Regional, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Berrigan, Bland, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Byron, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coolamon, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Dungog, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Federation, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume Shire, Griffith, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hay, Hilltops, Inverell, Junee, Kempsey, Kiama, Kyogle, Lachlan, Lake Macquarie, Leeton, Lismore, Lithgow City, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Mid-Western Regional, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Narrandera, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, Richmond Valley, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro Regional, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth Regional, Temora, Tenterfield, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan Shire, Uralla, Wagga Wagga, Walcha, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Weddin, Wentworth, Wingecarribee, Yass Valley
Types of projects funded under this grant
Projects that support the development of vibrant night-time economies in regional NSW through local business collaboration.
What costs you can apply for
Project coordination
Funding may be used for coordination, administration and engagement to support local collaboration and the delivery of the project.
A minimum of 25% of the total allocated grant funding must be spent on project coordination for the Business Collective’s activities.
Costs under project coordination may include:
- 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.
Marketing and promotion
Funding may be used to market and promote the Business Collective’s initiatives to increase consumer awareness and engagement with the town centre/precinct.
Costs under marketing and promotion may include:
- design and production costs
- social ads
- advertising fees
- PR agency costs
- influencer fees
- promotional material.
Events and activations
Funding may be used for events and activations which involve at least three local venues to increase vibrancy in the town centre or precinct.
Multi-venue participation is compulsory. These events must be distinct from any existing BAU programming for the participating venues.
Costs under events and activations may include:
- artist fees
- AV and staging equipment hire
- programming and production development fees
- free shuttle bus to and from activations
Who can’t apply
Business collectives or entities that have previously received funding under the Uptown Grant Program (Uptown Grant recipients) are not eligible for the Program. See glossary on page 6 of the Program Guidelines for the definition of an Uptown Grant recipient.
What costs you can't apply for
The following activities are ineligible for funding from the proceeds of a grant under the Program:
- the purchase or lease of land or property
- rent and utilities
- venue hire
- activities, equipment or supplies that are already being supported through other sources
- financing costs, including interest and debt financing
- maintenance and repairs
- capital works
- fundraising/prizes
- education or training costs
- any and all costs incurred before the grant funding period (i.e. 1 July 2026 for Cohort 1 and 1 September 2026 for Cohort 2)
- activity that takes place before, or after grant funding period (i.e. 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027 for Cohort 1 and 1 September 2026 – 31 August 2027 for Cohort 2)
- any and all costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation, including any costs associated with creating and/or registering as an eligible entity type
- activity that constitutes the normal course of business for any party associated with this application, not related to eligible grant activities
- activity that is unrelated to the town centre or precinct
- hospitality costs associated with BAU activities such as membership meetings.
The above list of ineligible activities is not exhaustive.
Example projects
For examples, refer to the sections of the Program Guidelines on delivering collective initiatives and leveraging opportunities (page 9) and case studies (page 10).
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Please refer to the Program Guidelines for further information on documentation required.
Your application will need to include the following:
- the total grant amount requested
- evidence that the Applicant meets the eligibility criteria as outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines including ABN, membership register and evidence of governance arrangements
- details of at least six (6) businesses in the Business Collective as outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines, including their ABN, business address and sector
- signed Consent Forms from each business in the Business Collective, as outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines (template provided)
- a Letter of Endorsement from a senior staff member of the relevant local council organisation (not an elected official, such as a councillor), as outlined on page 13 of the Program Guidelines, or evidence that endorsement is being progressed
- a nominated key contact in the Business Collective for the application, including contact information
- responses to each of the assessment criteria, including a completed Project Proposal template
- letter(s) of support from opportunity owner(s) (where relevant)
- letter(s) of support from platform and/or channel owner(s) (where relevant)
- letter(s) of support from the wider community and stakeholders (where relevant)
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
This is an open, competitive Grant Program, where all eligible applications will be assessed against each other based on the following criteria.
Project purpose and alignment – weighting 20%
Demonstrate that the Business Collective has considered the current state of the town’s going-out economy, what a successful night-time economy would mean in the town’s context, and how this Program can support the Business Collective to increase vibrancy into the night.
The response should include:
- an overview of the town’s going-out economy and any challenges it faces in relation to night-time vibrancy
- the Business Collective’s vision and objectives
- how the purpose of this Program aligns with the Business Collective’s vision and objectives.
Business Collective composition – weighting 10%
Demonstrate the robustness of the Business Collective’s composition and the relevance of the businesses to the vision and proposed initiatives.
Responses must provide details of at least six(6) local businesses in the Business Collective, including the name, address, sector, and relevance to the Business Collective’s vision and initiatives.
When assessing relevance of the businesses in the Business Collective, consideration may be given to the proximity of the businesses to the identified town centre/precinct and how the sectors represented are related to the Business Collective’s vision and objectives.
Governance – weighting 10%
Demonstrate the robustness of the governance frameworks that are in place for the membership-based organisation (the Applicant) and how they support collaboration with the Business Collective.
Responses must provide a description of the governance arrangements that are in place for the Applicant and how they support the Business Collective.
For example:
- Is there a constitution in place; has a sub-committee been established?
- What are the roles and responsibilities of the businesses in the Business Collective?
- How will decisions be made?
- Who is authorised to communicate decisions?
Community and stakeholder outreach – weighting 10%
Demonstrate that the Business Collective is committed to engaging with and building support from stakeholders and the wider community for their vision and the proposed initiatives.
The response should explain who the Business Collective plans to engage with beyond the businesses already part of it and why, including plans to increase the number of local businesses involved.
This might include:
- First Nations community and organisations (see page 22 of the Program Guidelines for NSW Aboriginal arts & culture protocols)
- arts and cultural organisations
- local businesses that are not currently part of the Business Collective.
If outreach has already commenced, responses should include an update on the status of this engagement. Letters of support from stakeholders may be included in the application, where relevant.
Project Proposal (template provided) – weighting 50%
Demonstrate that the Business Collective has considered the opportunities for increased vibrancy at night-time, how collective initiatives can be developed and delivered to leverage these, and how to promote these initiatives to the target audience.
The opportunities and collective initiatives proposed in this application will be developed into a comprehensive Project Plan as part of the capacity-building component of the Program.
Responses will need to provide:
- a list of opportunities to leverage for increased night-time vibrancy, with a description for each
- Business Collectives can determine how many opportunities to include, based on their local context
- (see page 9 of the Program Guidelines for examples of opportunities that might be relevant).
- a breakdown of the collective initiatives that the Business Collective proposes to deliver to leverage these opportunities, including for each:
- the name and description of the initiative
- which opportunity/opportunities the initiative leverages
- proposed dates (noting that initiatives must be delivered within a 12-month period)
- estimated cost breakdown, including funding category (i.e. project coordination, marketing and promotion, or events and activations – see pages 15 and 16 of the Program Guidelines)
- target audience
- key outcomes expected.
If the initiative(s) relies on an opportunity owned by a party outside of the Business Collective (e.g. external event organiser), a Letter of Support should be included. If the opportunity-owner is the local council, the Letter of Endorsement (detailed under eligibility criteria on page 13 of the Program Guidelines) should reference their support for the initiative(s).
- 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.
A Letter of Support from the platform or channel owner should be included, if not owned by the Business Collective and/or Applicant.
Start the application
Before you apply Applicants must read and understand the Guidelines.
When you apply (via SmartyGrants) Applicants must:
- Complete the application form in the SmartyGrants portal.
- Submit the application through the SmartyGrants portal.
- Provide all information requested.
- Address all eligibility criteria.
- Address all assessment criteria.
- Include all required attachments and templates (refer to Application Requirements).
- Submit by the timelines outlined in the grant program details.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Secretary, Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport or delegate
The Program is an open, competitive grant program.
This means that applications that satisfy stated eligibility, adequately satisfy assessment criteria, and are ranked as the most competitive applicants will be recommended for funding.
All applications are to be assessed through the staged process below.
Eligibility check
Applications will be checked for eligibility against the published eligibility criteria by the Department.
If eligible, the application will proceed to the next assessment stage.
If ineligible, the Applicant will be advised via email within 14 business days after the closing date and the application will not proceed to assessment.
The Department reserves the right to provide Applicants an opportunity to provide clarification or additional information regarding the eligibility criteria provided the principles of probity are not breached.
Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible unless otherwise determined by the Department.
Assessment stage 1
The assessment panel will assess all eligible applications against the published assessment criteria.
The assessment panel will be chaired by the Department and include representatives from across NSW Government. External experts/advisors may be invited to provide advice during any part of the assessment process.
Assessment stage 2
The assessment panel’s scores will be amalgamated and presented at an assessment meeting to determine their final recommendations. They will consider the assessment criteria, distribution, range, and scale of the initial recommendations.
This may include prioritising applications and activities with outcomes that better meet the Program objectives or address and ensure equity and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment. For example, considering the geographic spread of funded Applicants, program risks, or the range in types of initiatives being piloted to ensure the key objectives of the Program are being met.
The Department may also request further advice and/or clarification from Applicants during the assessment process.
Applicants are not guaranteed funding, or the full funding amount requested even if the application meets the assessment criteria.
The assessment of applications will identify the top ten ranked applications. The allocation of cohorts might consider the preference identified by the Applicant in the application, in order of highest to lowest ranked (see page 25 of the Program Guidelines for cohort allocation). 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.
Decision making
The Assessment Panel’s advice and recommendations will be provided to the Secretary, Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport or delegate for final consideration and approval.
In the event of all ten spots not being allocated through this Program, the O24HEC reserves the right to run a further open or targeted round for the allocation of the remaining funding.
Rescindment of grant
The Department retains the right to rescind a grant offer at any stage in the grant lifecycle, including after notifying successful applicants. The Department is not responsible or liable for any costs incurred by Applicants prior to the execution of a funding deed if a grant offer has been rescinded.
Probity advice
An independent probity advisor will provide guidance to the Department and the assessment panel on any issues concerning integrity, fairness and accountability that may arise throughout the application, assessment, and decision-making process. This will ensure decisions are made with integrity, fairness and accountability, while delivering value for money for NSW.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application under embargo as soon as possible after an application is approved. If the application is successful, we will advise the Applicant of any specific conditions attached to the grant.
Applicants who are not successful will be notified by email of the outcome of their unsuccessful application. Unsuccessful Applicants will have the opportunity to receive feedback on their application via an optional online feedback session with the Department.
Support and contact
Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly read through the Program Guidelines and attend at least one of the scheduled Pre-Application Information Sessions where you will also have the opportunity to ask questions.
For more information please review the Regional Night-Time Economy Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). If you still have queries, please contact us via email.
Email: Regional-NTE-Program@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au
Pre-Application Information Sessions
These sessions will cover an overview of the program, how to apply, and eligibility requirements, followed by a Q&A.
While not mandatory, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner strongly recommends all potential applicants attend one information session.
The information sessions will be held on:
Thursday 23 October 2025 from 2pm to 3pm
Tuesday 28 October 2025 from 3pm to 4pm
Monday 3 November from 10am to 11am