Bushfire Recovery Victoria – Local Economic Recovery (LER) Program: Regional Economic Programs Fund

This program seeks to support regional economic recovery by providing direct support to businesses in bushfire affected regions.

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 programs funded under this Fund will be drawn from approved economic recovery plans developed at regional and/or municipal levels. The regional and municipal recovery plans have been developed in consultation with the local community, and the local industry and business sectors.

The objectives of the program are to:
- 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, consistent with the objectives of local and state government.
- Increase business capability and continuity by providing increased opportunities to collaborate, innovate and drive change.
- Increase longer term economic and community resilience for future emergency events.
- Increase and restore visitor confidence in the region.
- Addresses a need of the communities that has arisen due to the impact of the 2019-20 bushfires.

Grants of up to $2.5 million are available.

A total funding pool of $8 million is available.

Eligible applicant include the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.

The following Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Alpine Resort Areas can access LER Program funding:
- East Gippsland
a) East Gippsland Shire
b) Wellington Shire
- North East Victoria
a) Towong Shire
b) Alpine Shire
c) Indigo Shire
d) Mansfield Shire
e) Rural City of Wangaratta
f) Wodonga City
g) Falls Creek Alpine Resort
h) Mount Hotham Alpine Resort
i) Mount Buller & Mount Stirling Alpine Resort

It is anticipated that most funding will go to the LGAs most directly impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires: East Gippsland Shire, Towong Shire and Alpine Shire (in that order).

Eligible programs must produce an economic benefit to a fire affected region and align with industry and business development, including 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.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Regional economic benefit (40%)
- Local participation and support in planning and delivery (20%)
- Alignment with economic recovery plans and other programs (20%)
- Long term socio-economic 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:
- Programs that:
a) May have a negative impact on existing businesses/services.
b) Require ongoing or recurrent funding to succeed or deliver benefits, unless there is demonstrated agreement from the relevant entity, including Commonwealth, State or local government, to provide that funding.
c) May have a negative impact on existing businesses/services.
d) Require ongoing or recurrent funding to succeed or deliver benefits, unless there is demonstrated agreement from the relevant entity to provide that funding.
- Programs where funding is normally provided, or has otherwise been provided, by other Commonwealth, State and/or local government sources.
- Offsetting of salaries, operating costs for existing staff or contactors.
- Costs of works completed prior to approval of funding for the project.
- The purchase of land or buildings.
- Non-specific indirect and overhead costs.
- Profit margins of applicant including (but not limited to) the applicant’s supply or use of plant, labour or materials.
- Costs of works and activities that are reimbursable under other funding sources, including insurance.
- Business-as-usual operational costs and expenditure.
- Passing on the funding to a third party in the form of a sponsorship, grant, cash prize or commercial gift.