Grants of up to $1 million for businesses and industry groups to expand, diversify or start new businesses.
On this page:
Overview
The Forestry Transition Fund supports job creation and business development in towns or communities affected by the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria.
Transition Fund - Round 2 grants are available to create new jobs, including jobs for displaced timber workers, in towns and communities significantly impacted by the forestry transition.
The fund supports:
The creation or maintenance of jobs and economic growth with a focus on permanent jobs for displaced native timber workers through:
expanding existing operations
establishing new operations
diversifying operations.
Business, industry, or community groups, local government authorities, or other organisations to provide enabling infrastructure to activate job-creating projects in the affected towns or communities.
The Transition Fund – Round 2 is being delivered as a contestable funding round in two stages:
Stage 1 – Expression of Interest.
Stage 2 – Eligible applicants will be invited to submit an application.
Round 1 applications are closed.
Available funding
Grants of $10,000 up to $1 million and a Transitioning Timber Worker Employment Incentive Payment of $20,000 per ex-native timber worker employed are available.
$12 million of funding is available through Round 2.
Grants over $500,000 will need to comply with the Fair Jobs Code and Local Jobs First policy.
Who can apply
Private sector businesses
Business and industry groups including but not limited to:
chambers of commerce and business associations
industry peak bodies
business and industry clusters and networks (noting that a cluster or network would need to nominate a business or entity to enter into the funding agreement and take on primary responsibility and liability for delivering the project).
Incorporated not-for-profit organisations that operate as a business
Local Government Authorities.
Funded activities
The types of things that can be funded include:
the expansion of existing, or development of new facilities, such as factories, offices, or shops
the introduction of new technologies, innovations, plant and equipment, systems, and processes to improve business growth.
How to apply
Step 1: Assess if a project is eligible
Prior to Expression of Interest, all applicants will need to go through the following process:
read the Forestry Transition Fund application guidelines carefully to establish a proposed project’s eligibility
If Expression of Interest is successful, the applicant will be sent a link to complete an application form. The application must be submitted by a person with authority to bind the organisation.
Applications must include financial statements (audited profit and loss statements and balance sheets for government agencies and not-for-profit organisations) covering the last three financial years and may include documentation to support the project such as:
material demonstrating alignment with the Local Development Strategy (if applicable)
a feasibility study
a business plan, including financial forecasts. For projects with a total project cost of more than $500,000 a business plan must be prepared by an external business advisor
risk analysis
letters of support from local government or community organisations, including Local Development Strategy host agencies.
Key dates
Expression of Interest open: 7 November 2024
Expression of Interest close: 5pm Friday 29 August 2025 (unless the program is fully subscribed prior)
Funding will be available for eligible projects in Victorian towns or communities where there has been an impact on local employment due to the end of native timber harvesting.
This includes applications from eligible businesses and organisations operating in or near the following towns or communities with a Local Development Strategy:
Benalla
Corryong
Heyfield
Koondrook
Murrindindi (Alexandra, Taggerty, Buxton and Marysville)
Noojee
Nowa Nowa
Orbost
Swifts Creek
Yarra Ranges (Powelltown, Yarra Junction and Warburton)
Yarram.
There is support available to help you complete an application.
