Business Support Hub

Ausindustry a partner in the next step of your business growth, supporting you to innovate, invest and commercialise. You may be eligible for funding

Destination NSW has a variety of tourism opportunities, grants and funding related to the tourism industry.

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) community oriented grants.

Research & Development Tax incentive helps companies to innovate and grow by offsetting some of the costs of eligible research and development.

Safety Equipment Rebates for Sole Traders and Small Business: The Small Business Rebate provides sole traders and small businesses with a rebate when they buy and install safety items to make their workplace safer.

Funding Opportunities

For a variety of grants and small business help, visit the following links:

• Grant Guru (Norfolk Island)
• Service NSW
• Business.gov.au

Businesses mainly in the entrepreneurial, medical, environment, and community space, click HERE for grant support.

Letters of Support

Certain funding programs may advise applicants  to seek a letter of support from their RDA. Letters of support are generally provided for projects that:

(a) have strong employment outcomes
(b) are for priority infrastructure that will build capacity within an industry
(c)  directly address an identified priority in the RDAMNC Regional Plan.

Please be aware we appreciate a minimum of 7 days notice to prepare letters of support. Call us for more information on 02 5525 1500.

RDAMNC Support Available

RDAMNC can provide some assistance with funding applications and information about programs.

Support includes access to data to support applications  and provided adequate time is made available RDAMNC can provide feedback on applications as well as a letter of support for relevant applications.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact RDAMNC to discuss their applications at least one month before the application is due to be submitted.

Business Support & Services

Need some help navigating the crowded and sometimes confusing business assistance landscape?

Business Australia – formerly the NSW Business Chamber – is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes to maximise their potential. Business Australia is an independent not-for-profit organisation that operates across the nation to help business, contact the Port Macquarie office today to find out about the unique Business Australia membership model.

Business connect – advice, support and mentoring to small business owners to establish and grow. Business owners can access personalised business support subsidised by the NSW Government.

Business.gov.au – The Australian Government’s principal business resource.

CHESS Connect DES: CHESS Connect deliver Disability Employment Services to local employers. Services include: professional recruitment and job matching, ongoing post placement support, links to training, Government incentives and PaTH internships and workplace assistance for existing employees who are having difficulty with performance due to injury, health condition or disability. CHESS Connect delivers DES across the Mid North Coast and North Coast. 1800 899 017 or www.chessconnect.org.au.

Department Regional NSW advocates for regional issues, helping build strong, resilient communities and economies, grow primary industries, create jobs and employment, and steward the use of natural endowments: our lands, minerals, agriculture, mining and natural resources.

Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services the Digital Solutions program works with you to adopt digital tools to save you time and money, and to help grow your business.

Edmund Barton Centre – created to help sustain economies across regional Australia, the Centre assists new and existing businesses to grow and innovate through supports including Start Up Business Development Program, Key Business Enhancement Program, Inspire Program and the Apprentice to Business Owner Program.

Self Start – information and links to resources to support you through the first stages of starting your own business from planning, validating your idea, finding local support, through to perfecting your pitch.

Service NSW Business Concierge can help you to access disaster support and payments, start, run or grow your business, apply for grants and licenses, work with councils, understand regulations, connect to services and advice.

Small Business NSW – hints and tips to get your business going, manage your business and build upon your success.

Starting a business guide  and checklist to take you through each step of starting a business and help you understand what’s ahead.

Training Services NSW Aboriginal Business Advisory Initiative – Training Services NSW (TSNSW) is proud to deliver a suite of Aboriginal Initiatives that aim to improve training, education, employment and business outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities in NSW.

Working and Business Learn more about starting and running a business in NSW, including financial and business advisory support options available to you.

Workplace Mental Health Coaching: The NSW Government has partnered with Transitioning Well to deliver a fully-funded coaching service to help NSW businesses create a mentally healthy workplace. Book now to get started: mentalhealthatwork.nsw.gov.au

Disaster and Emergency Support for Business: Recovery assistance is available to businesses impacted by natural disasters and emergencies. 

Apprenticeship Support Australia in NSW support for business owners to engage and sustain the employment of an apprentice.

Employer Incentives for Australian apprenticeships information on a range of employer incentives for Australia apprenticeships.

Skills NSW – Low Cost and Free training options: there is a range of courses and incentives available.

Indigenous Employment – hiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff

Workforce Australia is a place Australians can search and apply for jobs or find more information on their pathway to employment..

Job Access – driving disability employment: One in five Australians lives with disability. This represents a vast pool of talent, which employers can tap into to enhance workplace diversity and overcome labour shortages.

Skilled Migration Program: The Ski​lled stream of the Migration Program is designed to attract migrants who make a significant contribution to the Australian economy, and fill positions where no Australian workers are available. Skilled migrants have very high participation rates in the workforce, helping to stimulate economic growth, which results in more jobs. The Skilled stream also plays an important role in regional development through providing skills and labour which can’t be sourced locally, as well as encouraging investment and promoting local spending in regional areas.​

RDAMNC is the Regional Certifying Body for the regional skilled visa programs, more information on the 494 and 491 visa’s can be found here or you can contact our migration officer at migration@rdamnc.org.au.

Transition to Work ensures young people meet employers needs and are supported to settle into a job.

Wage subsidies financial incentives to encourage employers to hire eligible participants in ongoing jobs by contributing to the initial costs of hiring a new employee. Wage subsidies can help to build a business and give employers greater flexibility in their hiring options.