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Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• Have its principal place of business in one of the 9 regions outlined below and continue to be based there for at least 12 months following application submission:
  • Gascoyne
  • Goldfields-Esperance
  • Great Southern
  • Kimberley
  • Mid West
  • Peel
  • Pilbara
  • South West
  • Wheatbelt 
• Have been operating in that region for at least 12 months at the time of application submission.
• Be operating in a trade-exposed industry (or an industry that faces competition from other national or international SMEs or SMEs outside of their region).
• Be registered for GST for at least 12 months prior to application submission and intend to remain registered for the next 12 months.
• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Be a for-profit organisation or business (not-for-profits and charities are ineligible).
• Have at least one full-time equivalent (FTE) employee, in addition to the owner, but fewer than 200 FTE employees at the time of application submission.

Previous recipients of funding through the LCF are eligible to apply, subject to conditions outlined in the funding guidelines.

Eligible applicants must submit their application online via the . A preview of the application form detailing the required information is available through the portal. 

Before applying, applicants must read and understand these guidelines and the Financial Assistance Agreement found on the portal.

Apply

Applications are assessed by an independent Assessment Panel, comprising officers from the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) and external experts as required. 

Applications are evaluated against their eligibility, relevance to the round objectives and the following criteria:

A satisfactory response across all criteria is required for a successful application. 

1. Double-Check Your Application: Have someone else review it to ensure clarity and completeness.
2. Simplify Technical Details: Write in a way that anyone, not just industry experts, can understand. Imagine promoting the business via its website or social media.
3. Allow Sufficient Time: Start early to gather quotes and relevant documents. (Applications without quotes or relevant documents will receive lower scores.)
4. Be Concise: Provide sufficient detail without overwhelming assessors.
5. Highlight Key Information: Include important details that will make your application stand out.
6. Check Eligibility: Ensure the business and activities are eligible before investing time in the application. Contact the relevant team if you have eligibility questions.