Growing Regions Round 1, the numbers

On 25 June 2024 we obtained the final numbers for Growing Regions round 1.  There were 650 EOI applications requesting $2.7 billion, 311 got through to full application requesting $1.4 billion and 40 were successful made up of 31 council and 9 community groups receiving funding of $207 million.

Just 6% of applications were successful.

Section51 wrote applications for 3 councils and were successful with 2, a 66% success rate, achieving $11,851,218, close to 6% of the successful funding for our 2 councils.

29 May 2024, Auditor-General Report No.31 2023–24, Design of the Growing Regions Program was released, stating that 650 EOI applications were received, requesting funding of $2.7 billion.

On 25 June 2024 the Member for Mayo, Rebehka Sharkie MP, asked the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King MP during Parliament question time:

"Round one of the 300 million growing regions fund was underspent by 93 million despite receiving 311 suitable applications, representing $1.4 billion in worthy projects. Why did the minister select just 40 of the 311 suitable applications, and will the Minister carry over the unspent funds to round two?"

Catherine King answer:
"Of course, not all eligible projects were recommended for funding by my department. If you are suggesting that I should have funded not recommended projects, then I’d suggest that is not in the spirit of integrity or transparency. I look forward to the opening round two of the Growing Regions programme shortly. There will be some changes to the guidelines following the very helpful feedback from the Audit Office and the multi-party panel. It is my intention that this round will include the unallocated funding from round one, making even more money available for important community infrastructure projects across regional Australia."

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/jun/25

Is it worth applying for Growing Regions Round 2?
As Minister Catherine King said on 25 th June 2024, Growing Regions round 2 will be open shortly. Many councils may consider if it is worth applying for round 2 when only 6% of applications were successful with round 1.

Section51 advice is to undertake an assessment of the cost and time in applying for this and related grant programs with knowledge that the process has fundamentally changed under the Albanese government to be fair and equitable and in the ‘spirit of integrity and transparency’ as Minister King said.

Every council has equal opportunity regardless of which electorate you are in and that has significantly increased the competition. The positive is that you know that your application will be treated fairly and on merit, and that is a good thing. As the ANAO Audit report concluded ‘The design of the Growing Regions Program was largely effective’ p9. And lastly you have to be in it to win it.

How do we increase our chances?

From the day we started Section51, 14 years ago, and in every workshop and application we prepare, we have one primary message. That is that the purpose of an Australian Government Grant is to achieve Australian Government policy outcomes. Your project is not important, nor is your council or your problems with lack of money. What is important is that the purpose of your growing regions application is to delivery Australian Government policy outcomes. If you can demonstrate how, you will increase your chances.

As the ANAO Growing Regions Audit says in its conclusions ‘Infrastructure developed program objectives and outcomes that align with the overall government policy objective after capturing and documenting lessons learned from previous grants programs. Infrastructure consulted with stakeholders during the planning of the
Growing Regions Program and met the mandatory requirements against the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017 (CGRGs) for the grant opportunity guidelines.’ P9

Can Section51 help?

Yes, we can.

You can engage Section51 to prepare your round 2 Growing Regions, Regional Partnerships or other grant applications, for Australian or State Government.

Section51 is able to provide an assessor’s review of your draft application prior to submission. We can review, comment and provide feedback on your in house application.

Section51 has prepared a new workshop specifically on preparing applications for Growing Regions Round 2 and the Regional Partnership Program.