Timber Innovation Grants Program

The Forestry Transition Program is providing support for workers, businesses and communities who are impacted by the cessation of commercial native timber harvesting in Victorian state forests.

The Victorian Timber Innovation Grant Program aims to support impacted forestry businesses to explore, invest, and implement new business opportunities.

Objectives
The program supports Victorian forestry businesses to:

• explore, test or deliver new or innovative business models; or
• diversify and reorient core business activities into alternative industry sectors.

Funding details
The Victorian Timber Innovation Grants Program will provide grants up to $1 million.

Funding for Round 3 of the Program is awarded based on:

• the application’s value for money
• the capability of the applicant to complete the project.

The following will be considered by government when determining the grant amount provided:

• Project alignment with the program’s objectives, particularly the creation and the retention of jobs in Victorian communities impacted by the native timber transition.
• The co-contribution amount to be made by the applicant.
• Previous funding received by the applicant from the Forestry Transition Program, including earlier rounds of the Victorian Timber Innovation Fund, and the status of funded projects.
• The project will provide value for money by generating broader public good, particularly building local economies, and creating new or retaining existing employment opportunities.

Grants over $1 million may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Co-contribution requirements
A cash co-contribution is not a requirement for projects with a total value of up to $250,000 where jobs will be retained or created.

For projects with a total value of over $250,000, a minimum 1:1 cash co-contribution will be required by the applicant for every dollar over $250,000. Sources of cash co-contribution must be disclosed in the application. The purchase of land will not be considered a co-contribution.

Further information can be found in the program guidelines.