Textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) businesses keen to receive $250,000 or more in federal funding can now apply for the second round of Strategic Capability Program grants.
Applications for the second round of funding open today (June 6), with hundreds of thousands of dollars on offer for projects that will boost the innovative capacity of the TCF sector.
Proposed projects must fall within one of seven categories to be eligible for funding. Categories include 'accessing market opportunities', 'new business models and strategic repositioning' and 'environmentally sustainable and ethical practices'.
The minimum grant size is $250,000 and all funding must be matched dollar for dollar by grant recipients. Grants are offered on a competitive basis.
Organisations that were successful in receiving funding in the first round of the program include the Council of Textile & Fashion Industries of Australia, Creswick Woollen Mills and the Footwear Manufacturers Association of Australia.
The TCF Strategic Capability program commenced in June 2010 and will run to July 2015. The program will award $35 million to innovative TCF businesses annually over the course of the five years. It is administered by AusIndustry.
For more information, including how to apply, visit: http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/