WA Value Add Investment Grant—Feasibility Stream

Purpose and Program Overview

The WA Value Add Investment Grant—Feasibility Stream provides funding to agriculture, food, and beverage businesses in Western Australia. The program intends to support the planning, feasibility, and de-risking activities associated with future capital investment projects. This assists businesses looking to expand, diversify, or relocate their value-adding and processing operations within Western Australia.

The Feasibility Stream grant aims to foster new investments and mitigate the inherent risks associated with companies pursuing growth strategies in the value-added sector. By funding feasibility studies and other preparatory work, the program seeks to create a pipeline of well-researched, investable projects. These ‘de-risking activities’ could include market research, risk assessments, or pilot projects to test the viability of the proposed investment.

The broader role of this grant is to strengthen and diversify the Western Australian economy. It supports resilience within agribusiness and food and beverage industries, reduces reliance on imported products, and encourages investments that lead to significant business growth, innovation, and job creation in the state. This potential for growth and job creation should instil a sense of optimism and hope in potential applicants.

Key Grant Details

• Grant Amount or Funding Range: Individual grants of $15,000 to $100,000 (excluding GST).
• Application Open and Close Dates: Applications for this stream were accepted on a rolling basis and closed on 30 June 2025, or when funding was exhausted. This grant is currently closed.
• Eligible Industries or Business Types: Agriculture, food, and beverage businesses, including private sector businesses (incorporated trustees), public companies, grower cooperatives, or similar organisations.
• Required Co-contributions: A minimum 30% cash co-contribution of the total project budget is required. Aboriginal business applicants may be considered for flexible arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
• Location/State/Territory Applicability: Projects must be located in, or looking to relocate to, Western Australia (regional and/or metropolitan areas).

Priority Sectors

This grant targets agriculture, food, and beverage businesses involved in value-adding and processing operations in Western Australia. It aims to support investments that diversify and grow this sector within the state.

Funding Scope

Feasibility studies are preliminary investigations that aim to determine the potential success of a proposed project. They typically involve assessing the technical, economic, and financial aspects of the project.

• Minimum and Maximum Amounts per Stream: Minimum grant of $15,000; maximum grant of $100,000. The total funding available for this stream was up to $500,000.
• Categories or Streams of Funding: This stream focuses on planning, feasibility studies, and other de-risking activities for proposed capital investment or expansion projects. It is for capital projects in the conceptual stage that require further planning support before full investment.
• Project Timeline or Eligible Funding Duration: Projects are expected to commence no earlier than June 2024. The overall program, which includes this stream, aims to have projects delivered by 28 February 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

Key requirements for applicants include:

• Business Structure: Must be a private sector business (including incorporated trustees), public company, grower cooperative, or similar organisation.
• ABN/GST Status: Must have an ABN and be registered for GST.
• Turnover: Must have an annual sales turnover of at least $100,000.
• Business Status: Must be a “going concern,” indicating continued operation into the foreseeable future.
• Location: The project must be located in, or be looking to relocate to, Western Australia (regional and/or metropolitan areas).
• Legal Capacity: Must be capable of entering into a legally binding agreement with the Western Australian Government.
• Financial Capacity: Must have the financial capacity to fund the minimum 30% cash co-contribution.
• Operational History: Must have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months (or similar established track record).

Eligible Activities and Expenses

Grant funding can be used for activities and professional services required to assess project feasibility and support investment decisions. These include:

• Engaging technical consultants.
• Professional services (e.g., accounting, tax, legal).
• Property-related services (e.g., architects, planners, designers, valuers).
• Product or market analysts and advisors.
• Specialist reports and data services.
• Obtaining regulatory approvals.
• Obtaining the licences necessary to grow operations.

Activities explicitly not funded include working capital, refinancing existing debt, tax or fine payments, shareholder dividends, the purchase of land or buildings, marketing and market development activities, and research and development projects involving experiments with uncertain outcomes.

Assessment Process

The WA Value Add Investment Grant: Feasibility Stream is not just a grant; it’s a competitive program. This emphasis on competition should motivate potential applicants to present their best proposals.

Applications are assessed by a judging panel against specific criteria, with percentage weightings:

• Project Feasibility (30%): Credibility of the study activities and identification of key personnel/contractors.
• Direct Economic Benefit (30%): Potential to increase agriculture, food, and beverage value-added production.
• Viability of Applicant (15%): Assessment of the applicant’s capacity and capability.
• Strategic Business Case (15%): How well the project is planned and its strategic rationale.
• ESG Impact (10%): Ability to contribute to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives and support sustainability.

Projects must align with the objectives of the VAIG program.

Recent Program Updates

The Feasibility Stream of the Value-Add Investment Grants (VAIG) program accepted applications on a rolling basis until 30 June 2025, or until funding was exhausted. As of July 2025, this grant stream is closed to new applications. Previous rounds of the broader VAIG program have awarded significant funding since 2018 to support capital investment in Western Australian food and beverage value-adding industries.

Application Tips

• Ensure your proposed project clearly relates to food and beverage manufacturing or other forms of value-added processing in Western Australia.
• Provide a comprehensive plan for your feasibility study, clearly outlining the activities, desired outcomes, and how it will mitigate the risks associated with a future capital investment.
• Demonstrate your business’s established track record and financial capacity to provide the required 30% cash co-contribution.
• Aligning your proposal with the grant’s objectives is not just a suggestion; it’s a key to success. Particularly regarding reducing reliance on imported products, promoting growth, and fostering innovation and job creation in WA, this alignment should make potential applicants feel guided and clear about what is expected in their applications. Secure at least two quotes for the proposed feasibility project activities.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist, such as Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility and evaluate how well your project aligns with the grant’s objectives. You can also visit relevant government websites for application templates and further guidance.