This grant has expired.

This grant has expired and is no longer available. However, please contact Avant Group in case there are alternative grants available or to be informed if this grant will reopen.

WA Local Capability Fund - Aboriginal Business Round

WA Local Capability Fund – Aboriginal Business Round

  • The Aboriginal Business Round of the Local Capability Fund will cover 50% of eligible expenditure up to $50,000, requiring eligible costs of at least $100,000 if aiming to receive a total $50,000 in funding.
  • Applications are open until 13 September 2024

The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation has released the Local Capability Fund, which provides grants to help small and medium enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and secure work on large-scale projects in Australia and overseas.

Key Requirements

The Aboriginal Business Round of the Local Capability Fund opened on 26 July 2024 and will close on 13 September 2024. The Aboriginal Business Round aims to assist Western Australian small and medium enterprises to enhance their business capabilities. This funding program aims to build the capacity of Western Australian Aboriginal SMEs to participate effectively in the supply chains of export markets, state and local government agencies, the Australian Government, and the private sector.

What is eligible for funding?

The activities that are eligible for funding are as follows:

External Expertise – Planning/ Business Advice

  • Strategic planning
  • Market development
  • Supply chain optimisation
  • Tender preparation and submission advice
  • Grant application support for other government and international grants

Enhancement to Business Infrastructure/Systems

  • Production, transportation, communication and distribution systems
  • Operational systems used to meet pre-qualification requirments
  • IT (including cybersecurity)

Skills Development

  • Employee training
  • Employee development and up-skilling
  • Associated travel costs for training in areas that are not local
  • Costs to hire external group trainer to deliver group training

Plant and Equipment

  • Acquisition of new or secondhand machinery and equipment through dealerships
  • Modification and improvement of existing equipment
  • Upgrades or expansions to business premises
  • Purchase of specialised business vehicles – bobcats, forklifts, and heavy machinery (excluding utility vehicles, 4x4s, and vans)
  • Investment in specialised computer hardware and software for business operations (tender management, project management, online sales)

What companies are eligible for funding?

In order to be eligible companies must:

  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Be an Aboriginal business (50% Aboriginal-owned at minimum)
  • Be registered with either the Aboriginal Business Directory Western Australia or Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct
  • Be operating in a trade-exposed industry with significant national or international competition
  • Have operated in Western Australia for at least 12 months at the time of submission of application
  • Currently be registered for GST and have been for at least 12 months prior to application, with the intention to maintain registration for the next 12 months
  • Be a for-profit business or organisation
  • Be an incorporated not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation performing as a commercial enterprise
  • Be a Western Australian-based business with plans to remain in the state for at least the next 12 months
  • Have a staff size exceeding one but less than 200 full-time equivalent positions

If the organisation has previously received funding for the LCF they may reapply provided they have:

  • Fulfilled all obligations under previous funding agreements of the Financial Assistance Agreement, including submitting all required reports on time
  • Received less than $200,000 in total LCF funding within the past five years (excluding COVID-19 LCF rounds)
  • Claimed all funds from previously awarded LCF grants

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.