About Regional Development Grants
Businesses operating in regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia have access to both general business grants and specific regional development programs. The Regional Investment Corporation provides concessional finance for primary industries. State regional development commissions fund infrastructure, community projects, and business development across regional Australia.
Featured Programs
Highest value firstA $2 billion program funding transformational infrastructure projects across Western Sydney to enhance community livelihoods and support economic recovery. The program supports 191 projects across 15 eligible Local Government Areas, improving community liveability and quality of life throughout the region.
The Hydrogen Headstart program provides long-term revenue support to underwrite large-scale renewable hydrogen production projects in Australia. Funding is provided in the form of Headstart Production Credits (HPC), offering support per unit of production over a 10-year period of operations. The program aims to accelerate development of Australia's renewable hydrogen industry, support domestic decarbonisation, and help Australia connect to new global hydrogen supply chains.
A concession program for green hydrogen producers to significantly reduce their electricity costs in NSW. Up to $1.5 billion is available to support the development of the green hydrogen industry and drive down production costs.
Funding under Phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program is available from 1 July 2023 to support Eligible Funding Recipients to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia. LRCI Phase 4 continues the objective of the program to provide temporary, targeted support for creating and maintaining local jobs through road infrastructure and construction activities in communities across Australia. The intended outcomes of the program are to: deliver benefits to communities, such as improved road safety, accessibility and visual amenity; and create local short-term employment opportunities through funding construction projects Eligibility: Eligible Funding Recipients for Phase 4 are the same as for Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the LRCI Program. Grant Activity Timeframe: Phase 4 project construction can only begin once funding recipients have in place an executed Grant Agreement and Approved Work Schedule. Total Amount Availa
The Start Strong for Community Preschools program provides funding to deliver affordable quality preschool education for 3 to 5 year old children enrolled in eligible community and mobile preschools in NSW.
The Start Strong for Community Preschools program provides funding to deliver affordable quality preschool education for 3 to 5-year-old children enrolled in eligible community and mobile preschools in NSW.
Eligibility Notes
Regional grants typically require your principal place of business to be outside a metropolitan area (usually defined as outside a capital city or major urban centre). Some programs use specific postcodes or Statistical Areas. Check whether "regional" in a specific program context includes your location — definitions vary.
More Programs
14 additionalCommon Questions
Does "regional" include large regional cities?
Depends on the program — some use a strict metropolitan definition (capital cities only), while others exclude all cities over a certain population. Check each program's definition of "regional."
Are there grants specifically for agricultural businesses?
Yes — the Regional Investment Corporation provides concessional loans, and QRIDA (in QLD), Primary Industries SA, and equivalent bodies offer state-level support.
Grant information is sourced from official government websites and updated regularly. Always verify details with the official source before applying.