Grants

Grant or funding opportunities may be available to support the development of your business, project or event. Please see below the tips section for current opportunities.

Before applying, make sure you read the program guidelines and entity and project eligibility carefully to ensure that your project meets the program criteria. Some grants are highly competitive with short application time frames. 

Destination Central West NSW may be able to provide a Letter of Support for your project if it aligns with the Central West NSW Destination Management Plan.

Please note that Destination Central West NSW cannot determine if your organisation or project is eligible for funding. You must confirm your organisation and project eligibility under the relevant fund or program before requesting a letter of support.

Please complete this form to request a Letter of Support for your project. 

Funding through grant programs can provide significant benefits to businesses and destinations, helping to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the visitor experience.

When applying for grants, there are several considerations to keep in mind:

• Eligibility: Before applying for a grant, ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the grant program. Check the guidelines carefully to ensure that you are eligible to apply, and that your project fits within the scope of the grant program.
• Timing: Check the grant application deadline and plan to ensure that you have enough time to prepare a quality application.
• Research: Research the grant program thoroughly, including the application process, assessment criteria, and funding priorities. Understand the goals of the grant program and how your project aligns with those goals.
• Project design: Develop a well-planned project that is clearly defined, feasible, and aligned with the objectives of the grant program. Ensure that the project can be delivered within the proposed timeline and budget.
• Budget and financials: Prepare a realistic budget that reflects the costs of the project and the funding requested from the grant program. Ensure that you have the financial management capacity to deliver the project and manage the grant funds effectively.
• Evaluation and reporting: Consider how you will evaluate the success of the project and report back to the grant program. Ensure that you have the capacity to collect data and report on the outcomes of the project in a timely and accurate manner.
• Compliance and governance: Understand the compliance requirements and governance expectations associated with the grant program. Ensure that your organisation has the appropriate policies and procedures in place to manage the grant funds and comply with reporting and accountability requirements.

Overall, careful planning, research, and attention to detail are key when applying for grants. By addressing these considerations, you can improve your chances of submitting a successful grant application that meets the needs of the grant program and delivers positive outcomes for your organisation and stakeholders.

Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program

Close: 5pm, 20 February 2025

The Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program is open to initiatives that promote regional economic development and support employment creation and retention.

This program supports initiatives aligned with the Trust’s key focus areas:

• Aboriginal economic development and enterprise
• Community connection and capacity building
• Improving regional service delivery
• Sustainable regional industries.

Within each key focus area, applications may be submitted for:

• infrastructure projects
• services and program delivery.

Applications close 20 February 2025. 

Find out more here.

Playing Australia Project Investment

Close: 3pm, 4 March 2025, 3pm for projects starting after 1 June 2025

Playing Australia Project Investment supports organisations to undertake performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

The program supports costs associated with touring to regional and remote areas of Australia. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. Touring activity must be confirmed prior to seeking investment through this category.

You can apply for support towards:

• a tour that has a confirmed itinerary
• payment of fees and salaries for artists and touring party
• costs associated with remounting or rehearsing a work
• touring costs including freight, transport, accommodation and travel allowances
• tour co-ordination
• costs associated with reducing the environmental impact of your tour
• costs associated with supporting the wellbeing of the touring company.

Find out more here.

Open Streets Program

Close: 5pm, 14 March 2025

The Open Streets Program 2025 to 2028 is a $14.65 million grant program that will help transform our streets into more vibrant, walkable public spaces for people to enjoy and safely access

Local council applicants may apply for up to $350,000 to be expended over three years of events (across four Financial Years). 

The Open Streets Program 2025-28 aims to: 

• Promote vibrant local communities through delivery of free recurring street-based events
• Empower local councils to deliver reduced costs and improved efficiency for street-based events 
• Support cultural industries and drive economic growth with more sustainable ongoing delivery of street-based events
• Enable councils, community groups and businesses to activate their local streets. 

Applications close 14 March 2025.

Find out more here.

Creative Industries – Connectivity

Close: 17 March 2025

The Creative Industries – Connectivity program will deliver grants of up to $50,000 to support arts and cultural sector organisations, in collaboration with a creative industry business partner, to develop boundary-pushing projects and programs.

Applications are invited from not-for-profit small-to-medium arts and cultural organisations collaborating with a creative business to deliver an innovative idea. The broad range of partner creative industries businesses include broadcasting and digital media, design, architecture and fashion, built and physical heritage, arts education, food and beverage and technology sector.

This program will inspire a new wave of collaboration and innovation between artists, cultural storytellers and creative industries, to push boundaries, engage new audiences and develop lasting partnerships.

Find out more here.

Venue Upgrade Grants - Program 1

Close: 3pm, 17 March 2025

The Venue Upgrade Grants aim to support advice from consultants and experts to create fit-for-purpose venues. 

This funding aims to:

• Increase the number of fit-for-purpose live music venues in NSW
• Increase sector knowledge and expertise in best practice sound management and sustainable live music programming
• Reduce sound impact on neighbours, leading to less complaints and increased business viability
• Increase diversity of live music offerings for improved audience and visitor experience.

The grants are funded and administered by Sound NSW.

Find out more here.

Venue Upgrade Grants - Program 2

Close: 3pm, 14 April 2025

The Venue Upgrade Grants - Program 2 is  available for dedicated live music venues to support venue upgrades that enhance audience and visitor experience. Funding will support the purchase of equipment and a range of infrastructure development works.

This funding aims to:

• Build capability of dedicated live music venues to deliver world class audience and visitor experiences
• Increase the number of fit-for-purpose live music venues in NSW
• Increase sector knowledge and expertise in best practice sound management and sustainable live music programming
• Reduce sound impact on neighbours, leading to less complaints and increased business viability
• Increase diversity of live music offerings

The grants are funded and administered by Sound NSW.

Find out more here.

Cultural Grants Program 2024-2025

Close: 4pm, 21 March 2025

The Cultural Grants Program support Aboriginal community organisations and groups across NSW to celebrate Aboriginal culture and hold cultural events and activities.

The NSW Government is offering grants from $500 to $20,000 to:

• support Aboriginal communities to strengthen, protect, and maintain traditional and contemporary expressions of Aboriginal culture
• support Aboriginal cultural events and activities
• contribute to Aboriginal community wellbeing and healing through the use of Aboriginal culture and community connection
• facilitate sharing of Aboriginal cultural knowledge and skills between generations.

The Program will remain open until the $800,000 in funding is exhausted or the round closes on 21 March 2025 – whichever comes first.

Find out more here.

Electric Vehicle Destination Charging Grant - Round 3 

Close: 28 March 2025

Regional destination chargers are an important part of building a comprehensive public electric vehicle (EV) charging network across NSW.

Round 3 of this program has some significant changes to previous rounds and applicants are advised to review the guidelines before preparing their application.



The third funding round will co-fund private EV charge point operators (CPOs) who can install, own and operate low powered direct current (DC) public EV chargers between 24kW to 100kW in eligible zones across regional NSW. This infrastructure will help supplement the existing growing network of slower AC destination chargers and ultra-fast charging stations.

This round will fund up to 80% of costs associated with EV charger installations, up to a maximum of $200,000 per site.

Find out more here.

Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund



Close: 5pm, 30 April 2025

Administered by Create NSW, this program is designed to grow and support the live music ecosystem in NSW through investment in the operations of established music festivals, alleviating short-term financial challenges and improve business and job retention during the cost-of-living crisis. 

Funding will be available for government-related and operational costs for contemporary music festivals with event capacity of at least 15,000 people and are currently experiencing financial challenges. 

Applications will be accepted on an as needs basis while the funding program is open. The program will close when the budget is exhausted, or 30 April 2025, whichever comes first.

Find out more here.

Net Zero Planning Grant

Close: 5pm, 2 May 2025

The Net Zero Planning Grant provides NSW businesses an opportunity to receive funding to strategically plan for and progress their path to net zero.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Support businesses with long-term net zero planning.
• Enhance businesses' understanding of net zero to better integrate climate-related risks and opportunities, strengthen resilience and reduce emissions.
• Provide practical guidance to businesses to identify and take actions to progress towards net zero.
• Enable businesses to improve their competitiveness in the global transition to net zero.

Grants of up to $30,000, covering up to 75% of costs, are available and will be provided in two stages:

• Milestone 1: Up to $4,000
• Milestone 2: Up to $26,000

A total funding pool of $1.5 million is available.

This program is administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water.

Find out more here.

First Nations Tourism Mentoring Program

Close: Ongoing

The FNTMP can support you to grow your tourism business by connecting you with expert advice, tailored learning and access to culturally respectful industry specialists. If you are a First Nations tourism business and you have aspirations to grow, the FNTMP will give you access to free one-on-one mentoring, delivered in a way which suits your needs. 

The FNTMP can support you to grow your tourism business by: connecting you with industry professionals who can provide free, one-on-one advice; and culturally respectful support; providing access to a suite of learning supports and resources developed for and tailored to the First Nations tourism sector.

The mentoring will be delivered by industry specialists who have: tourism industry knowledge and experience including understanding of local tourism opportunities; experience working in a culturally appropriate and respectful manner with First Nations businesses and/or communities; previous experience providing business advice and support (including mentoring) and/or owning and operating a business.

It is a flexible program and the mentoring will be a mixture of face to face and online as preferred. Mentees will have an initial, one-on-one meeting with their mentor to discuss the current state of their business, their goals and objectives and to agree on the duration and frequency of mentoring as per the table below

Find out more here.

Lights On, Doors Open Stipend Program

Close: Once funds are exhausted

Financial support for volunteer-led museums in NSW.

The ‘Lights On, Doors Open’ stipend program has been established to relieve the pressures faced by volunteer-led museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces in NSW.

Funding of $2,000 is available to provide crucial financial support to cover essential expenses like rent, electricity bills and more. The program is not for organisations developing new ideas; rather, it is aimed at supporting organisations to cover small operational items difficult to cover through other grant programs.

The application process is designed to be hassle-free, ensuring a smooth experience for all applicants.

Funding will be allocated based on the order of eligible applications received until funds are exhausted.

Find out more here.