Native Forest Transition: Timber Region Transition Grant (TRTG)

Location

There are 15 local government areas that make up the native forestry region. To be eligible for funding, proposal must occur within one of the local government areas within the native forestry region.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Submit only one application.
• Hold an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN).
• Be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Be a solvent business based in Western Australia, including recent financial statements or projections to demonstrate financial capacity.
• Be a legal entity capable of entering into a legally binding funding agreement with the Western Australian Government.
• For applicants (directors/owners, even if applying under a different business) that have received previous NFTP funding, apply only for the difference up to $250,000 and for new projects only.
• Submit a comprehensive application via Smarty Grants, answering all questions.
• Be able to sign the Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA) within 60 days of the grant award.

Proposals must also demonstrate the ability to:

• Be delivered within, or propose outcomes within, the native forestry region.
• Be completed within 12 months of signing the FAA. Projects may be staged but must provide a clear pathway to completion with staged outcomes.
• Obtain or submit all necessary approvals, with timeframes accounting for any outstanding approvals.
• Provide proof of matched funding, such as bank statements, loan approval, or partnership agreements (except for businesses with at least 50% reliance on the native timber industry).
• Include a comprehensive business plan detailing the project’s goals, strategies, financial projections, and expected outcomes.
• Attach any additional supporting documentation, such as letters of support, approvals, environmental assessments, or technical feasibility studies.

Ineligible

• The following applicants are not eligible to apply:
• Local, state or federal government authorities/agencies.
• Government trading enterprises.
• Individuals without an ABN.
• Businesses not registered for GST.
• Not-for-profit organisations.
• Directors/Owners who have received more than $250,000 in NFTP funding.

The following activities are not eligible for funding:

• Operational Costs: salaries and wages of employees, routine operational and administrative expenses (e.g. rent, utilities, office supplies), and maintenance.
• Pre-existing or Retrospective Expenses: expenses incurred before the grant agreement was signed and costs related to previously completed projects.
• Capital Assets: purchase of land, buildings, and vehicles.
• Feasibility studies and research: costs for initial feasibility studies, market research, or exploratory research not directly leading to project implementation.
• Marketing and Advertising: general marketing, advertising, or promotional activities not specifically tied to the project's goals.
• Project activities outside of Western Australia.

Eligible applications will be assessed against the below:

Job creation

• Number of jobs retained or created
• Quality of jobs
• Development of local skills

Economic Diversification and Impact

• Location of outcomes
• Ability to support economic diversification
• Productivity and value-adding activities  
• Alignment to Strategic Priority Area

Innovation and Sustainability

• Innovative technologies and approaches
• Environmental sustainability
• Long-term outcomes

Project Feasibility and Organisational Capacity

• Technical and financial feasibility of the project
• Organisational experience and expertise
• Financial capability
• Governance structure

In addressing the assessment criteria above, applicants must submit a business plan to demonstrate the commercial soundness of the project. Key business plan components are set out below:

Business Strategy

• Business vision/mission
• Business goal objectives and outcomes
• Business size/position in market

Product overview

• Product (outcome of project) overview
• Distinguishing features of product (including technical basis)
• Target market

Commercial soundness of the proposal

• Market analysis (trend/market size/competitors/barriers to entry)
• Demand analysis and demonstrated customer need
• Price point and justification
• Ability of the business to generate revenue and profits

Business readiness

• Implementation plan
• Marketing plan
• Recruitment and skills development plan
• Project budget (including quotes, investment)

Gantt Chart

• Activities and tasks that are to be done
• Start and end date for activities
• Milestones and milestone dates

Organisation capacity

• Financial capacity
• Robust governance structure
• Capacity of key personnel (including CVs)
• Previous experience in delivering similar scale projects

Evaluation

• Project objectives and outcomes
• Performance measures and data collection methods

Step by step process

The following outlines the grant application and assessment process.

1. Grant opens – Wednesday, 21 August 2024.
2. Applicant to review the Guidelines, FAQs and the application template
3. Applicant to ensure that the organisation, the project and project activities are eligible for funding
4. Applicant to draft application and business plan; and submit before the close date
5. Grant closes – midnight Sunday, 6 October 2024
6. JTSI reviews all applications to confirm eligibility. Applications deemed ineligible do not proceed
7. Eligible applications are referred to third party for due diligence and technical assessment, where required
8. Assessment panel assess applications for recommendation of funding
9. JTSI refers recommended projects to the Minister for Forestry for decision
10. The Minister makes the final funding decision and announces successful applicants. JTSI will notify non successful applicants and provide general feedback.
11. Successful applicants and JTSI negotiate and execute the FAA
12. JTSI disburse funding based on negotiated milestones in FAAs

Successful applicants must enter into a FAA with JTSI. The FAA will be negotiated and finalised within 60 days of the grant award. If an agreement is not reached within this timeframe, the funding offer may be withdrawn.

The FAA must be signed by both the applicant and a government representative before any funded activities can commence.

Payments will be made in instalments, linked to the achievement of agreed milestones. The milestone payment schedule, including amounts and payment dates, will be discussed during the agreement negotiations.

Payment claims must be supported by appropriate evidence, and payments will only be made upon verification that milestone conditions have been met. Payments will be made electronically to the applicant’s nominated bank account.  

Recipients are required to submit a baseline evaluation report, quarterly project reports, and a final project acquittal, demonstrating progress and completion against the key milestones, deliverables, and outcomes of the funded project.

All specific funded activities to be acquitted will be detailed in the FAA. If a recipient fails to comply with any requirements in the FAA, they may be required to repay some, or all of the funding received

Tax information

We recommend you seek independent professional advice on your taxation obligations or seek assistance from the Australian Taxation Office. JTSI does not provide taxation advice. Grants paid under the NFTP are not regarded as payment for a supply to JTSI, and the total grant amount will not be increased to include GST.

Confidentiality

JTSI will treat all information provided as confidential and commercial-in-confidence where relevant.

Personal information and disclosure

JTSI may collect personal information for the purposes of administration and evaluation of an application. If the relevant information is not provided by applicants, JTSI and the State Government assessment panel will be unable to assess the application for funding.

Information from the application may be disclosed to other Western Australian Government agencies and may be published on the JTSI website, provided disclosure is consistent with relevant privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988. Personal information will be used and stored in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) set out in the Privacy Act 1988

If you have any questions about the program email NFTEnquiries@swdc.wa.gov.au or 
phone (08) 9777 1555.