Components

Rural Economic Development Grants

The Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants offered up to $200,000 as a co-contribution grant to strengthen primary production sectors and bolster rural communities.

Factory workers processing avocados

Program information

The RED Grants Scheme has invested more than $12 million over four funding rounds since 2018. An additional $3.9 million was made available for a fifth funding round.

Round five expressions of interest (EOI) opened on 9 November 2022 and closed on 30 January 2023.

QRIDA is leading a competitive selection process for the grants, with successful EOI applicants invited to submit a full application. Key application dates can be found below.

Grants were available for up to $200,000 with a 50 per cent cash contribution requirement from applicants to fund projects which provide unique opportunities to generate economic and employment opportunities related to primary production value chains across rural and remote Queensland.

Example projects eligible under the scheme could include:

  • improved business processes where such investment creates employment
  • training costs and technical support that are project specific.

Read the guidelines for more information.

Key dates

9 November 2022

Expressions of interest open

30 January 2023

Expressions of interest close at 11:59pm

24 March 2023

Expressions of interest outcomes will be advised and successful submissions will receive an invitation to submit a full application including an application pack

19 May 2023

Applications to apply close at 11:59pm

26 June 2023

Applicants will be notified of application outcomes

Following this, successful applicants will be announced by the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries

Upon approval and funding agreement

Successful applicants will receive funding to agreed milestones as their project progresses

 

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administers the RED Grant Scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

EOIs are now closed for round 5

You can download and read the guidelines here.

Frequently asked questions

View all FAQs

The 50 per cent cash contribution may be provided in the form of a bank loan, your own funds, project partner funds or a combination of these. Government assistance of any kind cannot be used to make up the 50 per cent contribution.

Local Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Industry Development Officers are available to assist with your Rural Economic Development Grant application and the development and planning of your rural economic project and business.

South QLD – DAF 

Stephanie Denman, Principal Agribusiness Development Officer, North Burnett, South Burnett, Gympie, Fraser Coast, Bundaberg and Cherbourg council areas

Zane Nicholls, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Moreton council areas

Peter Broomhall, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Goondiwindi, Western Downs and Southern Downs council areas

Clinton McGrath, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba council areas

David Hickey, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Murweh, Paroo, Bulloo, Quilpie, Maranoa and Balonne council areas

Nikki Seymour, Regional Director, South

Rohan Allen, Principal Agribusiness Development Officer, Scenic Rim, Logan City, Redland City, Ipswich, Gold Coast City council areas

Central QLD – DAF

Maria Ribbeck Donoso, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Whitsundays Council area)

Robert Nissen, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Mackay & Isaac Council areas)

Kristie Clark, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Livingstone Council area)

Katrina James, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Rockhampton Council area)

Hayley Eames, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Banana & Gladstone Council areas)

Jessamine Crawford,  Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Central Highlands & Woorabinda Council areas)

Davina Roberts, Manager Regional Agribusiness Development (Central QLD)

Lew Markey, Manager Agribusiness Development (Western QLD)

North QLD - DAF 

Peter Holden, Principal Agribusiness Development Officer (Ag Strategy) (FNQ and Atherton Tablelands)

Greg Mason, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (FNQ, Atherton Tablelands, Gulf)

Tim McGrath, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (FNQ, Atherton Tablelands, Gulf and Cape York)

Brock Dembowski, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (NQ – Burdekin, Hinchinbrook and North West Qld)

Gareth Jones, Manager Regional Agribusiness Development (NQ , Burdekin, Hinchinbrook and North West Qld)

Michael Heidenreich, A/Manager, Regional Agribusiness Strategy, Cairns

 

Funding will be available once a funding agreement is finalised with QRIDA. As project milestones are completed, grant payments will be made to your designated bank account.

You must immediately notify QRIDA if there is a change to the scope of the project. Contact us here.

Grant funding is not guaranteed at any stage of the application process and applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.

In-kind contributions may be offered in addition to the 50 per cent cash contribution to the project. 

Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis in each stream against the following criteria:

  1. Public benefit
  2. Co-contribution and value for money
  3. Capability and capacity
  4. Project attributes.

For more information on how applications will be competitively assessed read the guidelines on this page.

You may use government loan assistance towards your co-contribution to help to fund project activities, for instance, a Sustainability Loan from QRIDA.

However, funding from another government grant program is unable to be used as a co-contribution to fund project activities under the scheme.

Primary production enterprises and small to medium sized businesses applying for the grant must be registered for GST. All other applicant entities need to indicate whether or not they are registered for GST in the form.

Yes, an application for assistance under the scheme can be made jointly by two or more applicants. In these cases only one applicant needs to demonstrate the ability to provide the 50 per cent cash contribution and have adequate experience and/or qualifications to give the applicant a reasonable prospect of success in carrying out the activity. All Applicants must meet the other eligibility criteria.

As stated in the guidelines, EOI outcomes will be advised and successful submissions will receive an invitation to submit a full application including an application pack on 7 February 2022.

If you are successful in receiving a grant you will be required to enter into a legally binding funding agreement with QRIDA. For more information on your grant obligations please read the guidelines.

Primary producer
Grant

Last updated: 31 January 2023