The National Stronger Regions Funds Presentation from the RDA Illawarra Grant Writing workshop 7-9 July 2015 Hosted by: RDA Illawarra www.rdaillawarra.com.au Presented by: Waples Marketing

2. What we will cover today
Overview &
Objectives
Assessment
Process
Round 2
Preparation
Questions

3. NSRF Overview
• $1 billion Australian Government program
• Funding over 5 years for priority infrastructure
• Promote sustainable economic development
• Addressing disadvantage to achieve growth
• Encouraging strong partnerships

4. NSRF Objectives
• Fund investment ready infrastructure projects which
support economic growth and address disadvantage
• Desired outcomes for regions
Improved level of economic activity
Increased productivity
Employment and skilled workforce
Capacity and capability to deliver major projects
Improved partnerships
Stability and viability of communities

5. Application Appraisal Framework
Value
Meet
eligibility
requirements
Greatest
relative merit
Reasonable
cost
Acceptable
risk

6. Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must comply with all of the following eligibility
requirements;
 Applicants must be an eligible applicant
 Projects must be an eligible project
 Grant sought is at least $20,000 and up to a maximum of
$10 million
 NSRF grant is matched in cash on at least a dollar for
dollar basis

7. Eligibility Requirements (cont..)
 All partner funding is confirmed
 The project completed on or before 31 December 2019
 Deliver an economic benefit to the region beyond the
period of construction and
 Submit a completed application, including the mandatory
documents.

8. Who is eligible?
Eligible Organisations
 Local councils
 Not-for-profit organisations (not owned by a Local,
State or Territory Government)
 Other organisations can participate where they are a
member of a consortium led by an eligible applicant

9. Who is ineligible?
Ineligible Organisations
X State and Northern Territory Governments
X State and Territory owned corporations and not-for-
profits
X Universities, technical colleges, schools and hospitals
X Organisations supported by other Commonwealth
programmes and initiatives
X Regional Development Australia Committees
X For profit organisations

10. What is eligible?
Eligible Projects
 Construction of new infrastructure, or the upgrade, or
an extension to existing infrastructure
 Funding between $20,000 and $10 million
 Match funding in cash at least dollar-for-dollar
 Deliver an economic benefit to the region
 Project completed by 31 December 2019
 Provide all mandatory documents

11. What is ineligible?
Ineligible Projects are those that:
X Do not have all partner funding confirmed
X Do not deliver sustainable economic benefits
X Eligible under the National Disaster Relief and
Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA)
X Shift costs from state, territory or local governments
X Are integral elements of hospitals

12. What is ineligible?
Additionally, NSRF grants cannot be used for:
X Replacement of existing infrastructure
X Expenditure incurred prior successful announcement
X Provision of services and support activities
X Soft infrastructure
X Payment of existing salaries
X Administrative overheads

13. Round One - Who Applied?
LGA
$940.4m
NFP
$270.6m
Funding sought by
organisation type
Eligible applications by
organisation type
262
143
194
78
LGA NFP
Applied Eligible

14. Round One Eligible Applications
67%
33%
405 APPLICATIONS
Eligible/Ineligible
Eligible
Ineligible
72%
28%
133 INELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS
Reason for ineligibility
Unconfirmed
partner
funding
Other

15. Round One Applications - Observations
405 Applications received in Round One
$1.2b Total funding requested
272 Applications met eligibility criteria
133 Applications did not meet eligibility criteria
96 Applications did not have confirmed partner funding
110 Failed to satisfy one or more criteria
162 Were assessed as value for money
51 Applications approved for funding (12.8%)

16. Round 2 Preparation

17. What’s new for Round 2?
Changes from Round One
• Two applications per Applicant per Round
• The replacement of existing infrastructure will only be
eligible where there is a demonstrated significant increase
in productivity
• Changed weighting of Criteria
• $25 million quarantined for projects seeking less than $1m

18. Your application will be assessed against 4 criteria
1. The extent to which the project contributes to
economic growth in the region (15/35)
2. The extent to which the project supports or addresses
disadvantage in a region (10/35)
3. The extent to which the project increases investment
and builds partnerships in the region (5/35)
4. The extent to which the project and Applicant are
viable and sustainable (5/35)
Assessment Overview

19. Assessment Criteria: Criterion 1
The extent to which the project contributes to
economic growth in the region
 Most important criterion (15/35)
 Guidelines contain examples of what might constitute
economic growth
 Must demonstrate the link between the project and
economic growth
 Provide evidence to support claims
 Identify any social and community benefits

20. Assessment Criteria: Criterion 2
The extent to which the project supports or
addresses disadvantage in a region
 Project should support disadvantaged regions or
areas of disadvantage
 Demonstrate link between project and disadvantage
 Provide evidence to demonstrate link and benefits
 Guidelines give examples of indicators that could be
used to demonstrate disadvantage

21. Assessment Criteria: Criterion 3
The extent to which the project increases investment and
builds partnerships in the region
Consideration will be given to:
 Partner cash contributions in addition to the
mandatory dollar for dollar matching funding
 Number of partners (do not have to be eligible
organisations)
 In-kind support for the project
 Extent and nature of partnerships

22. Assessment Criteria: Criterion 4
The extent to which the project and Applicant
are viable and sustainable
 The project has been scoped, costed and planned
 The project ‘Investment Ready’ – i.e. ready to start
construction within 12 months of signing the funding
agreement
 Project delivery risks and possible mitigations
 Applicant’s capacity to deliver the project
(financial/experience)
 Sustainability of the Project beyond completion

23. Key points
Project must be investment ready
Partner funding (cash) must be
confirmed and documented
All mandatory documents provided
All 4 criteria addressed
Link benefits of project to evidence

24. Preparing for Round Two
• Improve your application
• Seek feedback on your Round One application
• Advice from RDA Illawarra
• Workshop the criteria
• Prepare evidence that is targeted and specific
• Make it competitive
• Clear statement of benefits
• Evidence
• Understand the selection criteria
• Weighting on economic benefit and disadvantage

25. Preparing for Round Two
Information Advice and Support
• Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions and grants
portal guidance are available at
www.infrastructure.gov.au/nsrf
• Questions can be emailed to
nsrf@infrastructure.gov.au
• RDA Illawarra can advise on alignment with regional
priorities, project development and applications.
Email enquiries@rdaillawarra.com.au

26. Preparing for Round Two
Key Dates
NSRF Guidelines (revised) released 13 May 2015
NSRF Round Two Opened 15 May 2015
Round Two Applications Close 31 July 2015
Round Two Application Assessment
Completed
31 October 2015
Announcements Round Two Projects to
be funded
Expected
December 2015

27. How to Apply
Online application form at http://gms.infrastructure.gov.au/UI
• Supporting documents (up to 20) only accepted online
• Max 15mb limit and no password protected documents
• Guidelines on website www.infrastructure.gov.au/NSRF
• Helpdesk for GMS portal
Other
• Strongly encouraged to participate in the Review survey
• These slides will be on the NSRF website
• Questions?