TAS Accelerating Trade Grant Program

Program Overview:

The Accelerating Trade Grant Program supports Tasmanian businesses, helping them expand their global market presence and fostering collaboration. This includes promoting Tasmanian products and services globally. It is part of the Tasmanian Government’s Trade Strategy 2019-2025. The program targets market growth and diversification beyond Tasmania.

Key Grant Details

• Applications: Open until annual funding is fully allocated
• Grant Amount: Up to $10,000 per applicant per financial year
• Funding Contribution: Covers up to 50% of approved project expenses related to off-island trade activities

Key Requirements:

This is a competitive application process. A judging panel assesses all applications based on these criteria:

• Demonstrate the project’s value for money. Emphasise the potential to increase the sales value of Tasmanian products/services. Additionally, it demonstrates how it will effectively enhance brand awareness in targeted markets.
• Specify the sector and market to which the business is linked. Tourism businesses are not eligible under this program. Priority goes to products/services from key sectors and priority markets identified in the Tasmanian Trade Strategy 2019-2025.
• Provide research evidence to support the value of the proposed activities.
• Highlight the applicant’s previous trade, market, and business development experiences. Also, provide business plans or marketing strategies.
• Describe the nature, suitability, and quality of the proposed trade activity. Explain how it aligns with the program’s objectives.
• Projects must focus on markets outside Tasmania.
• Submit your applications at least three weeks prior to the project’s start date.

Eligible Activities and Expenditures:

The program offers a reimbursement of up to 50% of approved project expenses. The maximum cap is $10,000 per applicant per financial year.

Eligible expenditures include:

• • Promotional Activities, Materials, and Supporting Services: Television, print, and/or magazine media campaigns.

• • Website design or redesign: This must specifically target a new market or audience. Examples include language translation or culturally appropriate images.

• • Online promotions, including social media campaigns.

• • Production of printed brochures or pamphlets.

• • Creation of digital promotional materials like videos or multimedia presentations.

• • Cost of samples given away for promotional or marketing purposes. These samples are priced at wholesale cost. Maximum grant funding for samples is $1,000.

• • Freight expenses for samples are capped at a maximum grant funding of $350.

• • Attendance at trade exhibitions and promotions: This covers exhibition stand or promotional space fees, rental of exhibition equipment and infrastructure, and transportation of promotional items to and from exhibitions or promotions. Individual expenses, such as trade show entry or workshop registration, are limited to one person per application.

• • Market Research and Business Matching Services: Commissioning specific market research. Generic, industry-wide research may not qualify.

• • Engaging business matching services: This includes third-party help in identifying and engaging with contacts in eligible markets. This is for importing, purchasing, distributing, or supporting your product or service locally.

• • Conducting study/market research tours: This includes in-market research of competitors, customers, and potential customers. It also involves gaining insights into the market and business culture and practices.

• • Inbound Buyer Visits to Tasmania: Costs related to interstate or international buyers visiting Tasmania. This includes airfare, accommodation, and meals. Grant funding for this item is capped at $3,000 per visit.

• Travel to an Off-Island Market: Economy airfare expenses for one person specified in the application.

• • On-Ground Expenditure – Per Day Allowance: A daily allowance of $350 for one person per night spent outside Tasmania. This covers accommodation, meals, beverages, and transport. This allowance is disbursed without needing proof of expenditure. Travel/flight itineraries or tickets are an exception. This is part of the $10,000 maximum grant amount.

• • No additional costs apply for on-ground expenditure beyond the allowance.

• • The maximum number of nights of on-ground expenses that can be claimed is seven. This totals $2,450.

Eligibility Criteria:

To meet the grant eligibility criteria, applicants must:

• Operate as a Tasmanian business. Demonstrate that products or services are produced, transformed, or value-added within Tasmania. There must be an intention to dispatch them from Tasmania.
• Possess an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Show an annual sales turnover greater than $150,000 in at least one of the last two full financial years or the current year. Exceptions may be granted through an expression of interest process. This applies to participation in Tasmanian government-facilitated events, such as trade missions or trade shows.
• Maintained an annual sales ceiling that has never exceeded $10 million. Exceptions can be considered through an expression of interest process for participation in Tasmanian government-facilitated events. This applies if a compelling business case shows highly probable and significant trade outcomes.
• Demonstrate the necessary capabilities, resources, and capacity to undertake trade development activities.

Tasmanian businesses can receive a maximum of $10,000 in grant funding per financial year. Any applications exceeding this limit will not be assessed. Multiple applications are acceptable, but each applicant’s maximum approved grant amount remains capped in each financial year.

How can you get help with your application or assess your likelihood of success?

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist, such as Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility. We will also evaluate project alignment with grant objectives.