SA Enabling Infrastructure Program – Round 3

  • Applications open until 13 October 2025.
  • Funding pool for this round: $5 million (2025–26).
  • Per‑grantee caps:
    • Stream 1 (Infrastructure): Funding up to $1,000,000 is available.
    • Stream 2 (Infrastructure Planning): Funding up to $75,000 is available.
  • Note: Grants up to $2,000,000 may be considered in exceptional cases with exceptionally broad benefits.

The South Australian Government’s Enabling Infrastructure Program – Round 3 is part of the Thriving Regions Fund, designed to support regional communities through targeted infrastructure investment. With a total funding pool of $5 million for 2025–26, the program offers two distinct streams: Stream 1 for shovel-ready infrastructure projects and Stream 2 for infrastructure planning activities. Grants range from $50,000 to $1 million for infrastructure projects and $10,000 to $75,000 for planning initiatives.

The program aims to strengthen regional communities by enabling infrastructure that improves quality of life, attracts and retains residents and businesses, and supports economic development. Projects must be investment-ready and demonstrate alignment with regional priorities. Applicants are required to contribute a minimum cash co-contribution, exclusive of other grant sources.

Key Requirements

  • Deliver regional community and economic benefits—enhance quality of life, support population attraction/retention, and strengthen regional economies.
  • Support workforce and/or business attraction and retention across regional SA.
  • Address service gaps (projects in childcare, aged care, key worker accommodation, digital connectivity) are considered favourably.
  • Be investment‑ready (Stream 1) with approvals and capacity to commence within 6 months and complete within 2 years of funding agreement.
  • Build project readiness (Stream 2) via planning activities such as needs assessments, feasibility, stakeholder engagement, cost–benefit analysis, and business cases.
  • Provide required cash co‑contribution per entity type; in‑kind is not counted towards this minimum.
  • Grant delivery duration window: Program requires Stream 1 projects to start within 6 months and finish within 2 years of funding agreement; Stream 2 planning to start within 3 months and finish within 1 year.

What is eligible for funding?

  • Stream 1 – Infrastructure projects

    • that are investment‑ready and can start within 6 months and finish within 2 years of funding agreement
    • e.g., regional community or enabling infrastructure that improves livability, attracts/retains people and businesses.

  • Stream 2 – Infrastructure planning

    • to build project readiness: needs assessments, feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement, risk and cost‑benefit analyses, business case development (concept/detailed design), implementation planning; must start within 3 months and finish within 12 months.

Eligible activities include:

  • Infrastructure projects that are investment-ready and can commence within 6 months
  • Planning activities such as feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement, risk and cost-benefit analyses, business case development, and implementation planning
  • Projects that improve regional quality of life, attract and retain residents or businesses, and support economic development
  • Infrastructure that complements other initiatives and demonstrates broad regional benefit

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants (must be legal entity, key project driver, have ABN and be GST‑registered):

  • Companies, Partnerships, Sole Traders, Co‑operatives, Statutory Authorities, Local Governments, Incorporated Associations, Registered Charities, Companies Limited by Guarantee. (RDA associations and SA Government agencies are not eligible.)

Other considerations:

  • Projects must benefit regional South Australia and be located in SA.
  • Applicants must contact a Principal Regional Advisor to confirm eligibility/alignment and obtain a unique identifier before applying.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.