Bushfire Recovery Victoria – Local Economic Recovery (LER) Program: Local Community Project Grants

This program seeks to support local community recovery by funding projects that are important to achieving the aspirations and priorities of local communities.

It forms part of the $68.6 million Local Economic Recovery (LER) program which is jointly funded by the Australian & Victorian Governments and will fund local projects vital for community recovery, support economic stimulus projects, and boost industry and jobs across bushfire-affected regions.

The objectives of the program are to:
- Increase economic and social benefits through investment in enabling infrastructure.
- Increase employment opportunities and decrease skills shortages in key sectors.
- Increase the capacity of the business community by enhancing employment, business and economic opportunities with a focus on tourism and primary industries, including small businesses.
- Increase business capability and continuity by providing increased opportunities to collaborate, innovate and drive change.
- Increase longer term economic, infrastructure and community resilience for future emergency events.
- Increase and restore visitor confidence in the region.
- Improve community wellbeing and community/social development.
- Restore or improve the natural environment.
- Promote Aboriginal participation and ownership.
- Protect and enhance Aboriginal culture.
- Addresses a need of the community that has arisen due to the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires.

Grants of up to $2 million are available.

A total funding pool of $26.6 million is available, allocated across three funding rounds:
- Round 1 (approximately $5.3 million is available): Opened 29 October 2020 and closed 30 November 2020
- Round 2 (approximately $14.6 million is available): Opens 15 March 2021 and closes 12 April 2021
- Round 3 (Approximately $5.3 million is available): Opens 26 July 2021 and closes 23 August 2021

Applicants are advised to contact the program administrator prior to submitting an application.

Eligible applicants include:
- Community Recovery Committee (CRC)
- Not-for-profit organisation, including community groups that are an incorporated body, cooperative, association or social enterprise
- Private sector businesses
- Business and industry groups, including:
a) Chambers of commerce and business associations
b) Industry peak bodies
c) Business and industry clusters and networks
- Utility and services providers and water corporations
- TAFE institution and university
- Public/private partnership, through an incorporated entity
- LGAs and resort management boards
- Other organisation agreed between the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and the Victorian Government

Eligible applicants must:
- Be an incorporated legal entity.
- Have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have no outstanding final reports or final reports required for any previous grant programs.

Traditional owner/custodian groups and Aboriginal businesses are encouraged to apply.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete eligibility requirements and eligible LGAs and Alpine Resort Areas.

Eligible projects must directly benefit one or more local communities within a fire affected region (East Gippsland and/or North East Victoria) and align with one or more of the following LER Program categories:
- Enabling infrastructure: New infrastructure and functionality enhancements or upgrades to existing infrastructure including betterment.
- Industry and business development: Initiatives supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, business retention, development of regional specialisations, economic diversification, expansion and attraction, capacity building, workforce participation, skills development, small business development, and local and regional industry networks.
- Social development: Community development and wellbeing, social support or social development initiatives.
- Natural environment and resource development: Natural resource restoration and environmental improvement initiatives.
- Built environment adaptation: Disaster risk reduction through adapting the built environment to future climate and natural hazard conditions.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Local community benefit (40%)
- Local participation and support in project planning and delivery (20%)
- Alignment with recovery plans and other programs (20%)
- Long term outcomes (20%)
- Project feasibility and delivery

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of the assessment criteria.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- State and Commonwealth Government departments and agencies.
- Unincorporated community organisations (must have an auspice organisation).
- Fixed trusts.
- Projects that, in the State’s opinion, may have a negative impact on existing businesses/services.
- Projects that require ongoing or recurrent funding to succeed or deliver benefits, unless there is demonstrated agreement from the relevant entity, including Australian, State or Local government, to provide that funding.
- Projects where, in the State’s opinion, funding is normally provided, or has otherwise been provided, by other State, Commonwealth and/or local government sources.
- Business-as-usual operational costs and expenditure, including overhead costs.
- Costs of works completed prior to approval of funding for the project (retrospective funding).
- The purchase of land or buildings.
- Private sector projects undertaken as a result of another government contract.
- Projects that the State considers are normally funded through Commonwealth, State or local government sources.
- Costs of works and activities that are reimbursable under other funding sources, including insurance.
- Projects requiring operational funding from the Victorian Government once completed.
- Activities that that the State considers are considered Local Government Authority core business.
- Passing on the funding to a third party in the form of a sponsorship, grant, cash prize or commercial gift.