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Information for successful applicants

What happens next for successful applicants?

• Applicants for successful projects will receive a letter from the Premier advising that it is intended to offer a grant for the project.
• Following this, documentation will be sent to the applicant which sets out the terms and conditions of the grant
• Applicants will first need to comply with the grant conditions then have the offer signed by authorised officers of the organisation and return it the address indicated, along with a Tax Invoice for the amount of the first payment.
• Payment will be made by electronic transfer to the bank account of the organisation.

What conditions might be on the grant?

• For some projects additional information will need to be provided before the offer can be preparedFor some projects additional information may be required, such as:
  • proof of owner's consent
  • evidence of a Development Approval (if required) or that a DA is not required
  • information on incorporation status
  • formal quotations
  • financial statements, etc
• Applicants will be contacted and advised on the information required to enable a formal grant offer to be prepared.
• Where partial funding is proposed (that is, where the grant offer is less than the funds requested) or where a clearer description of the project is required, a clear and concrete description of the project will be developed for inclusion in the grant agreement

Why was I only offered partial funding?

• Many Local Members sought to enhance the benefits from the program and distribute the funds more widely by recommending that partial funding be offered to some projects.
• In recommending partial funding Local Members tried to ensure that other funding sources could meet the gap or that a substantial part of a project could be completed.

When will the applicant receive the funds?

• Funds will be provided after any conditions have been satisfied, the offer has been signed, and a Tax Invoice submitted.
• If additional information is required, or if conditions apply to a project and need to be satisfied (for example, if a Development Approval is required) funds will not be released until these requirements are satisfied.
• Small funding amounts will generally be paid up-front once conditions are met and the agreement signedLarger funding agreements will be through staged payments on achievement of milestones.

What will the contract look like?

• The contracts will be short simple documents which specify key elements such as the applicant, the project description and location of the work, timeframe for work, the funding amount, reporting and acquittal and any conditions applicable
• Contracts for larger funding amounts will be longer due to the more complex nature of the project and the staging of payments against project milestones.

How will I need to report on progress and when the work is completed

• All contracts will include a requirement for acquittal of the funds at the completion of the project
• A declaration will be required when the work is completed, and formal accounting for funds received and expended

Will the Local Member have an ongoing involvement?

• Local Members have played an important part in making recommendations on projects in terms of relative merits against community need
• Although not a formal condition of the funding agreement, as a matter of courtesy the Local Member should be given the opportunity to participate in future aspects and be given advice on your project.

Information for unsuccessful applicants

Why was my project unsuccessful in winning funding?

• The program received over 2200 eligible applications seeking funds in excess of $119 million
• Within each electoral district, competing projects were assessed and graded against the program's project results criteria as identified in the application material
• The recommendations arising from the competitive assessment were for the allocation of available funds for each electoral district
• Competing projects were assessed against the program criteriaNot being successful in winning funding does not mean that the project did not address a genuine need for community infrastructure

How were projects assessed and funding recommendations made?

• Each project application was assessed against the anticipated project results in two separate stages:
  • the Local Member graded the projects against criteria for local community need and benefits aspects of the selection criteria;
  • Independent Review Panels graded project applications against the employment generated, benefits for disadvantaged groups in the community, how widely the benefits will be enjoyed across the community, and whether the project leverages other funding.
• The assessment enabled a competitive ranking to be made between projects
• The consideration of projects by MPs and the Independent Review Panels was conducted independently and confidentially

Will there be another round of funding offers?

• Following the first round of offers some projects may not be able to take up the funding offer.
• It is expected that during 2010 a review of the unused funds for each electorate will determine whether an additional round of offers may be made for that electoral district
• Offers will be made on the basis of available funds and the assessments of projects which have already been conducted.

How can I improve my application for future grants programs?

• As the projects were assessed competitively and by independent processes it is not possible to provide individual advice to applicants.
• In any grants program it is important to read the application material carefully and address the criteria which set out the requirements that projects will need to satisfy.
• The projects proposed for funding were judged as best meeting the selection criteria for the program relative to the other applicants competing for the available funding.

Can I appeal?

• The grading of applications followed a rigorous process, with separate independent stages to ensure that applications were considered fairly and on their merits
• The process was subject to advice and overview by an external probity adviser to ensure that the processes were fair and equitable and gave due regard to probity principles
• No appeals are available

Information for ineligible projects

Why was my project ineligible?

• The eligibility of projects, in satisfying the program criteria, required that projects generate employment through:
  • construction of new capital works;
  • refurbishment, repairs and maintenance to existing capital facilities;
  • the purchase of capital equipment that enables the delivery of a new or enhanced employment generating service

What was the process for determining eligibility?

• Assessment of the eligibility of any project was conducted by an independent committee where there was some doubt as to its conformity with the program
• The committee considered projects against this criteria and made formal recommendations on the eligibility of individual projects.
• The independent probity assessor participated as an observer to the deliberations of the committee to ensure that the treatment of each project was consistent, fair and equitable

Why was my application ineligible?

• Under the program applications for eligible projects are required to be submitted by incorporated not-for-profit bodies or local councils. Organisation status is a factual question and applicants need to be able to prove their eligibility under the programIndependent checking of organisation status is also being conducted.

Could my application become ineligible?

• Some projects may become ineligible after being proposed for funding. This may arise if they are unable to meet conditions of the funding offer, for example:
  • if quotes are not obtained
  • Development Approval, if required, is not obtained
  • the legal status of the organisation is unable to be demonstrated as eligible
  • if other conditions of the offer are not met.