How to apply for grants
What are grants?
Grants are a way that governments (local, state, and federal) allocate funding to businesses and organisations for a particular project that aligns with the government’s policy objectives.
Grants vary in size. The type of funding you can receive depends on:
- what the grant is for
- how much money has been allocated to the grant program
- how well your application aligns with the aims and criteria of the grant
- how many other applicants there are.
Quick facts on grants:
- Unlike a loan, grants do not need to be repaid, but income from grants is taxable.
- There isn't one single time when all government grants become available.
- All grants have different purposes and guidelines that you will need to follow.
- The type of grant will dictate the types of businesses and organisations that are eligible to apply.
- There are guidelines in each grant that will explain how to apply and eligibility criteria that you will need to meet.
- When you apply you will need to explain how you will spend the money and what impact it will have on your business.
- If you are successful in receiving a grant, you will need to demonstrate how the money was spent. and the results it delivered. Any funds allocated can only be used on specific activities related to your grant project.
- You need to be proactive in seeking out grants and their timelines.
When a business receives a grant, it uses that money to work on things that the government is focused on – like regional employment, innovation, new technology, sustainability or supporting the local community.
Examples of government grant priorities could include:
- increasing job opportunities for Tasmanians
- building or improving infrastructure
- enabling the purchase of new equipment
- helping to improve energy efficiency
- accelerating business and sector growth
- developing export opportunities
- upgrading, restoring or fitting out buildings
- attracting visitors to the state
- promotion of the arts and creative industries
- providing further training or upskilling opportunities to employees
- enhancing services for the community.
Governments also award grants to help communities recover after a disaster or to provide support for specific sectors in times of economic difficulty.
Applying for your first grant?
The Tasmanian Government encourages and supports Tasmanians to start new businesses.
The New Business Support Service can assist you with free advice to get you started. If your business is already up and running, you can access advice through the Tasmanian Business Advice Service.
Both of these services offer free support to assist you write a grant application.
To be the first to find out about grants in Tasmania, subscribe to the Business Tasmania newsletter or follow us on Facebook.
If you are interested in applying for grants to support your business goals, we’ve created this video, to help get you on the path for grant success.
Business grants writing guide
The PDF business grants writing guide is the complete resource for preparing a grant application.
There are worksheets within the guide that we have provided separately in PDF and Word format so that you can use them for your applications.