TAS Accelerating Trade Grant Program

TAS Accelerating Trade Grant Program

  • Applications will remain open until 30 June 2026, or until the annual funding limit is reached, whichever occurs first.
  • Grants: up to $10,000 in any one financial year per applicant, with a co-contribution of up to 50% of approved project costs.

The Accelerating Trade Grant Program supports Tasmanian businesses to expand their presence internationally, or enter new markets, through marketing, promotion, trade events, business matching, market research, inbound buyer visits, etc. The program offers grant assistance of up to $10,000 to cover up to 50% of the expenses related to specific off-island activities aimed at promoting market growth and diversification for Tasmanian businesses.

Key Requirements

This is a competitive application process, and all applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrating value for money, realistic potential to increase sales or brand awareness in the targeted markets.
  • Identifying a sector and market consistent with key sectors and priority markets in the Tasmanian Trade Strategy. Tourism businesses are excluded.
  • Providing research evidence for the proposed activities (e.g. competitor/customer research, market tours).
  • Showing capability: prior trade/market/business development experience, business plans or marketing strategies.

Grant funds are reimbursement after approved project and expenditure completed and satisfactorily acquitted.

  • Applicants should submit at least three weeks before the project starts.
  • Projects must be completed within 12 months of the application date.

What is eligible for funding?

Examples of eligible expenses:

  • Promotional materials (brochures, digital content, campaigns) targeted at new markets or audiences.
  • Website design/re-design that directly targets new markets or audiences.
  • Freight of samples (note: capped at $500).
  • Sample costs (wholesale cost, capped at $1,000).
  • Attending trade exhibitions/promotions (stand fees, infrastructure hire, freight of promo items; person-specific costs for trade show/workshop registration are limited to one person per application).
  • Inbound buyer visits: costs including airfare, accommodation, meals, capped at $5,000.
  • Travel to off-island markets (economy airfare for one person).
  • On-ground allowance: $350 per night for up to seven nights outside Tasmania (covers accommodation, meals, transport), totalling $2,450.

What companies are eligible to apply for the grant?

To meet the eligibility criteria for the grant, applicants must adhere to the following requirements:

  • Must be a Tasmanian business with products/services that are produced, transformed or value-added in Tasmania, and despatched from Tasmania.
  • Must have an active ABN and be registered for GST.
  • Must have annual turnover > $150,000 in at least one of the last two full financial years, or current year-to-date, unless via expression of interest for government-facilitated trade missions or shows.
  • Must have annual sales that have never exceeded $10 million, unless exceptions apply via expression of interest or an exceptional case.
  • Must demonstrate the capacity and resources to deliver the proposed trade development activity.

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.