Supply Chain Support Program

The aim of the program is to support the recovery of first receivers that process primary produce in identified primary industries impacted by the February/March 2022 severe weather and floods by:

• assisting in the business recovery of processors that have been directly and indirectly impacted
• retaining key skills and jobs within the supply chain
• upgrading and enhancing the supply chain, where applicable, to reduce the impacts of further natural disasters and build sector resilience for future events
• providing support which has a medium to longer term impact

Applicants must:

• be in the supply or value chain of the aquaculture (including fisheries), horticulture (blueberries, macadamias, pecans, vegetables, tea tree), or agriculture (beef, dairy, soybeans, sugarcane, intensive livestock) industries
• operate and be located in one of the 62 LGAs impacted by AGRN 1012 or represent members that have been impacted
• have experienced direct or indirect impacts as a result of AGRN 1012
• be the first receiver AND processor of primary produce
• have demonstrated skills and capacity to deliver the project
• have been registered, as per the relevant criteria, and operational for 12 months or more prior to the commencement of AGRN 1012 on 22 February 2022
• have or be willing to purchase at least $20 million in Public Liability Insurance

Businesses applicants must:

• be an industry business enterprise or in the close supply or value chain of the eligible industries
• have an ABN, ACN, AIN or another identifier
• be a legally registered, incorporated entity
• be registered for GST
• have been financially viable prior to AGRN 1012, and continue to be financially viable

Co-operatives applicants must:

• be a registered co-operative with NSW Fair Trading Registry and Accreditation under the Co-operatives National Law (NSW)
• be operational with at least five active members

Ineligible applicants include:

• Australian Government or NSW Government agencies
• organisations that are not registered co-operatives, unincorporated or do not have an ABN, AIN or other identifier
• primary producers and farm gate sellers
• transport and logistic providers
• businesses that are insolvent

See the guidelines for full details of applicant eligibility requirements.

Projects must:

• have a primary focus on the retention and creation of jobs
• build industry sustainability, support/increase supply-chain efficiencies
• involve product diversification (whilst continuing to support supply chains in eligible industries and LGAs) or other activities that will support sustainable jobs including sector-wide professionalisation or business development with a focus on productivity, sustainability and growth
• be sustainable without continued government investment
• align with existing NSW Government policies and strategies
• have a minimum co-contribution of 50% of the total project cost (Co- contributions of less than 50% may be considered in extenuating circumstances)
• be able to commence within 12 months from announcement

Examples of eligible projects include:

• replacement, repair, enhancement or adaptation of existing plant and equipment, including technology or energy efficiency upgrades, that increase resilience of the supply chain
• sourcing of alternative production inputs for transition projects including fuel switching
• transportation of primary produce from outside of usual sourcing areas
• critical private infrastructure upgrades i.e. private roads directly linked to supply chain efficiencies
• diversification to process alternate primary produce which continues to support supply chains in eligible LGA(s) and industries
• development of new manufacturing processes
• product, business or sector development
• regeneration of natural assets including site clearance
• industry feasibility, research and development studies
• change or linking with existing or emerging opportunities
• industry wide marketing and promotion activities

Ineligible projects include:

• projects that would fund the day-to-day operations of business
• projects which involve the purchase of new plant and equipment not linked to replacement, repair, enhancement or adaptation of disaster damaged plant and equipment
• projects that require ongoing funding from the Australian or NSW Government
• projects that would proceed and be delivered on the same timeline without government financial assistance

See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible projects.

Eligible grant costs include:

• capital and other costs directly related to the delivery of eligible projects

Ineligible grant costs include:

• repayment of existing debts or budget deficits
• costs to cover lost earnings as a result of AGRN 1012
• administrative, operational and maintenance costs not related to the project
• ongoing staff wages and salaries
• costs already funded by insurance or other Australian or NSW Government programs
• improvements or repairs to residences (excluding worker accommodation)
• costs that require recurrent or ongoing funding from the Australian or NSW Government

See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible expenditure.

Applicants can only submit one application and will be required to provide the following information to determine their eligibility and suitability for the program:

• applicant details including ABN or another identifier
• location of processing facility financial statements (trading, profit & loss statements and balance sheets) for one year
• evidence of participation in or representation of the aquaculture (including fisheries), horticulture (blueberries, macadamias, pecans, vegetables, tea tree), or agriculture (beef, dairy, soybeans, sugarcane, intensive livestock) industries or their supply chains
• evidence of experience in delivering projects similar in scope and scale to the project or otherwise demonstrates capability and capacity to deliver the project
• a detailed project scope
• a cash flow budget and underlying assumptions for the lifecycle of the project including ongoing benefits
• information on how the project meets the assessment criteria including projected jobs that will be created or retained over the first three years of the project (at a minimum)
• other expected benefits of the project and how they will be measured (other than employment)
• evidence of how the project relates to industry recovery following the impact of severe storms and floods in February/March 2022
• confirmation of the co-contribution to the project
• evidence of $20 million Public Liability Insurance, or confirmation that $20 million Public Liability Insurance will be purchased prior to funding deed execution, in the name of the applicant

Applicants claiming on the basis of direct damage from AGRN 1012 will be required to provide:

• evidence of direct damage resulting from AGRN 1012, which includes:
  • a list of the direct storm and flood-related damage (mandatory)
  • photographic evidence of the direct damage (mandatory)
  • balance sheet equipment schedule
  • depreciation tables
  • any other appropriate evidence to prove direct damage for consideration by the Department in circumstances where the direct damage is unable to be photographed or other information (eg. receipts) is not available

Applicants claiming on the basis of indirect damage from AGRN 1012 will be required to provide:

• evidence of indirect damage resulting from AGRN 1012, which includes:
  • documentation showing a loss of production output in 2022
  • receipts of purchase for primary produce outside of typical supply area
  • supporting documentation to show a lack of supply of primary produce

See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.

Applications are submitted online via the SmartyGrants portal.

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