The Australian Government announced it would provide $50 million to create the Business Events Grants program. This assistance is part of the $1 billion Relief and Recovery Fund which is providing assistance to sectors, regions and communities disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19.

It will empower not only the business events sector, where the required cancellation of events due to COVID-19 has seen a near 100 per cent loss of revenue, but also the broader business community by stimulating high value, multi-day business to business events across multiple sectors of the economy.

There are two key Phases involved in the Business Events Grants program:

• Phase 1: Schedule of Approved Business Events (now open)
• Phase 2: The Business Events Grants program

Expressions of Interest for the Schedule of Approved Business Events

An expression of interest (EOI) for event owners to apply to have their event included on the Schedule of Approved Business Events is now open. This will then enable eligible businesses to apply for a grant to attend your business event. A list of eligibility criteria, Australian Government priority sectors and information on the assessment process is available under key documents.

We encourage you to submit your EOI by 11:59PM, 30 November 2020 to ensure your event can be considered for the Schedule when the Program opens in mid-December.

EOIs will remain open through to 26 February 2021 but may be closed earlier to manage demand on the Program or if all Program funds are committed.

Eligibility

• The business event’s topic or subject matter aligns with one or more of the Australian government priority sectors. These include but are not limited to mining, food and agribusiness, oil and gas, medical products, clean energy, plastics and waste recycling, defence, space, enabling digital technologies, tourism, design, fashion and media.
• The business event has a business to business component that brings together delegates and exhibitors for a product and service exchange. Applicants must provide an estimate on the proportionality of the business to business component and expected number of business delegates/exhibitors.
• The business event must be a multi-day event held in 2021 and deliver a significant economic impact for the host region through overnight stays and supporting interstate travel.
• For business events in metro locations there must be a minimum of 100 participants, with no minimum number for regional locations.*
• The business event supports regional Australia. Support can include being hosted in the region and/or using regional products and services.
• The business event has been held previously and the event owner has previous experience in the business events sector running similar events with evidence of delegates and exhibitors origin breakdown.
• As a demand driven program, the business event must be open for registrations for delegates/exhibitors to book, or will be open for registrations within a month of being listed on the Schedule of Approved Business Events (with a cut-off date of 26 February 2021 for final registration). Priority will be given to events that are open for registration at the time of submitting an EOI.
• The business event must meet all relevant regulatory  requirements, including having COVID-safe protocols in place.
• The business event will support the overall objectives of the Business Events grant program including:
  • Enhance industry match making opportunities and deliver Australian product and service value add.
  • Promote Australian business capability, including to a domestic audience.
  • Strengthen supply chain resilience for the Australian economy.

*Regional locations are any destination outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra. The location of events is open across all regions of Australia.

Eligibility Criteria and key information can be found here.

FAQs – FAQs can be found here.

Funding applications under the Business Events Grants program

The Business Events Grants program will support Australian businesses by providing grants between $10,000 and $250,000. Grant funding will cover up to 50 per cent of costs incurred in participating at pre-approved business to business events as buyers or sellers during the 2021 calendar year. Eligible costs could include space hire, design and manufacture, travel or accommodation.

The Business Events Grants program will open in mid-December.

For more information, please head to the Austrade website.