Queensland business grants - a post-election update
The recent Queensland State Government election saw a change in government with the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) taking the reins.
With the election complete, various grant programs that were put on-hold have re-opened for applications. It’s important for businesses to be aware of these grant opportunities and the upcoming application deadlines, but also to understand the impacts a change of government might have on grant funding availability.
Provided below is a snapshot of the current grant opportunities for Queensland businesses and a post-election update from the departments and bodies overseeing these programs. While we are still awaiting further information on several programs, we have compiled this summary based on feedback from the relevant departments administering these grants.
| QLD Grant Program | Department Update | Status | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made In Queensland (Round 7) | This popular manufacturing grant program is continuing. The new LNP government has also made a recent commitment to increase funding for the MIQ program in the order of an additional $5mill per year from 2025-26. | OPEN | 24 January 2025 |
| Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grant Program (Round 2) | This program is expected to continue as usual. Importantly, applications will be assessed as they are received until current funding is exhausted so we recommend applying ASAP in the event no further funding is made available. | OPEN | 30 June 2025, or until all funding is allocated |
| Rural Economic Development Grants (Round 7) | The current round is open to expressions of interest and is expected to proceed to completion in 2025. We recommend completing an EOI and then awaiting further information on the completion of assessments in the new year. | OPEN | 22 November 2024 (EOI stage) |
| South East Queensland Innovation Economy Fund | Limited information available with the contact email for the grant administration team no longer valid. | OPEN | 13 December 2024 |
| Accelerating Female Founders Program - Founders stream | Program is expected to continue until current allocated funding is exhausted. No announcements have been made regarding future program funding and, as such, we recommend applying ASAP to avoid issues if funding is discontinued. | OPEN | 30 June 2025 |
| Female Founders Co-Investment Fund | Program is expected to continue until current allocated funding is exhausted. No announcements have been made regarding future program funding and, as such, we recommend applying ASAP to avoid issues if funding is discontinued. | OPEN | 30 June 2027 |
Summary
The Made In Queensland program is the only currently open grant program that has a firm commitment from the new LNP government. Businesses can proceed with confidence in respect of Round 7 grant applications and can expect future rounds to be made available in 2025 and beyond.
There is less certainty for other grant programs. The administrating bodies expect existing funding allocations to be honoured, however the long-term future of these other programs is uncertain and dependent on LNP program funding decisions.
We recommend proceeding as soon as possible with any programs that offer funding on a first-come first-served basis such as the Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grant or Female Founders Programs to avoid disappointment if the existing funding is exhausted.
While there is a prevailing view that currently open programs will proceed to completion, there remains a non-zero risk that currently open programs will be withdrawn before assessments are complete. Changes of government results in uncertainty in the status of these programs so we recommend keeping this in mind when deciding whether or not to pursue current grants, or delaying grant applications until more details are announced by the new government.