Local Priorities

Eligible applicants are:

• incorporated not-for-profit community organisations
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• incorporated Aboriginal community organisations (i.e. initiated by, controlled and operated by Aboriginal people and/or governed by a board or committee of Aboriginal people)

Eligible applicants must:

• have an ABN
• have, or be able and willing to purchase, at least $20 million public liability insurance
• be located in NSW
• not be insolvent, bankrupt or subject to ongoing legal proceedings
• declare in the application form that the applicant is not aware of any issues which could cause reputational or other risks to the NSW Government.

Applicants must provide evidence that they are an incorporated entity by providing either an Australian Business Number (ABN) or an Australian Company Number (ACN).

Eligible organisations that are unincorporated must provide evidence that they are registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or another Act.

Eligible Locations:

• Albury City
• Armidale Regional
• Ballina Shire
• Balranald Shire
• Bathurst Regional
• Bega Valley Shire
• Bellingen Shire
• Berrigan Shire
• Bland Shire
• Blayney Shire
• Bogan Shire
• Bourke Shire
• Brewarrina Shire
• Broken Hill City
• Byron Shire
• Cabonne
• Carrathool Shire
• Central Coast
• Central Darling Shire
• Cessnock City
• Clarence Valley
• Cobar Shire
• Coffs Harbour City
• Coolamon Shire
• Coonamble Shire
• Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional
• Cowra Shire
• Dubbo Regional
• Dungog Shire
• Edward River
• Eurobodalla Shire
• Unincorporated Far West NSW
• Federation
• Forbes Shire
• Gilgandra Shire
• Glen Innes Severn
• Goulburn Mulwaree
• Greater Hume Shire
• Griffith City
• Gunnedah Shire
• Gwydir Shire
• Hay Shire
• Hilltops
• Inverell Shire
• Junee Shire
• Kempsey Shire
• Kiama Municipality
• Kyogle
• Lachlan Shire
• Lake Macquarie City
• Leeton Shire
• Lismore City
• Lithgow City
• Liverpool Plains Shire
• Lockhart Shire
• Lord Howe Island
• Maitland City
• Mid-Coast
• Mid-Western Regional
• Moree Plains Shire
• Murray River
• Murrumbidgee
• Muswellbrook Shire
• Nambucca Valley
• Narrabri Shire
• Narrandera Shire
• Narromine Shire
• Newcastle City
• Oberon
• Orange City
• Parkes Shire
• Port Macquarie-Hastings
• Port Stephens
• Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional
• Richmond Valley
• Shellharbour City
• Shoalhaven City
• Singleton
• Snowy Monaro Regional
• Snowy Valleys
• Tamworth Regional
• Temora Shire
• Tenterfield Shire
• Tweed Shire
• Upper Hunter Shire
• Upper Lachlan Shire
• Uralla Shire
• Wagga Wagga City
• Walcha
• Walgett Shire
• Warren Shire
• Warrumbungle Shire
• Weddin Shire
• Wentworth Shire
• Wingecarribee Shire
• Wollongong City
• Yass Valley

Eligible projects that can be supported by a Local Priorities grant:

• will need to demonstrate how the project contributes to the wellbeing, social or economic participation of local residents consistent with the program objective at 1.3
• will enable organisations to remove barriers, expand, enhance or provide new activities for participation by more people or a wider range of people
• can include expenditure related to infrastructure, equipment, salaries (new, temporary only), services or maintenance of existing infrastructure/assets.

Eligible projects can include establishment of new community organisations with a primary focus on activities that contribute to the wellbeing, social or economic participation of residents.

Projects must be able to meet the project delivery timeframe listed in the Key Information.

Short-term outcomes

Improved amenity of local activities lifts community engagement

Increased access to diversion activities, reduction in youth crime

Medium-term outcomes

Health and well-being improvements, and increased opportunities to develop skills and connections within the local community particularly for young people and families

Long-term outcomes

Attract and retain the residents and workers needed to ensure the economic success and ongoing sustainability of regional communities

Communities have the amenities and social cohesion needed to build and maintain resilience from economic or environmental shocks

The following types of project costs are eligible for funding:

• are within the minimum and maximum funding amount for a grant under the program
• minor capital works for expansion, upgrades or the purchase of equipment and non-fixed assets 
• modifications/maintenance of infrastructure that enhances safety or physical accessibility, such as ramps, lights or accessible change rooms
• engagement of temporary staff, programs or service providers to enhance an organisations’ activities or deliver programs, that contribute to the program objective
• includes less than 20% of the total grant for contingency
• includes less than 10% of the total grant for project management and administration

Ineligible applicants include:

• individuals
• sole traders
• unincorporated associations
• for profit and commercial organisations
• Australian or NSW Government agencies, state owned corporations, or statutory authorities

The following are examples of project costs that are ineligible for funding:

• financing costs, including interest and debt financing, costs such as rent and utilities unless specifically related to the project 
• insurance costs (applicants must hold and maintain adequate insurance coverage for any liability arising from their participation in funded activities) 
• depreciation of plant and equipment beyond the life of the project 
• purchase of land or buildings  
• staff training costs not directly related to the project 
• any costs for works or improvements that are not directly related to delivering the project 
• retrospective funding to cover any project component that is already purchased and/or complete prior to the Department receiving a signed Letter of Offer and Confidentiality Agreement, however the NSW Government makes no binding financial commitment until both parties sign a funding deed. 

A project is not eligible for funding if:  

• the application does not meet the compliance, eligibility and project feasibility criteria or does not include information required to assess these criteria 
• the applicant has received other grant funding for the same project or the project should be funded under other existing NSW Government programs or services
• it is for planning purposes only, marketing, branding, advertising or product promotion including tourism marketing, it is for business-as-usual activities operational expenditure or costs associated with existing ongoing staff
• it requires ongoing funding from the NSW Government. A plan for the closure, or continuation of the activities with alternative funding, at the end of the grant period once the grant is expended, will be required as evidence.
• provides direct commercial and/or exclusive private benefit to an individual or business

The following are examples of projects which may be funded under the program and are listed as guidance only:

• Community organisation facilities or assets (e.g. safety, sound or lighting upgrades, small equipment purchases) to support more frequent or diverse activities.
• Sport or school aftercare organisation delivering programs or engaging skilled staff to provide wellbeing programs for children.
• Aboriginal community organisations engaging temporary part-time skilled staff, providing childcare/creche and purchasing equipment to deliver digital skills to their community.
• Establishing a new community organisation related to liveability and social cohesion by purchasing equipment or upgrading facilities as the initial investment to support ongoing community gardens, playgroups, community environmental ‘care’ groups, men’s/women’s sheds.

Co-contributions and collaborative project delivery are encouraged but not required.