Rural Economic Development Grants
The Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants offer up to $200,000 as a co-contribution grant to strengthen primary production sectors and bolster rural communities.
Program information
The RED Grants Scheme has committed almost $20 million over six funding rounds since 2018. An additional $3.3 million was made available for the seventh funding round, with $400,000 of the funding allocated to First Nation agribusinesses
Round Seven expressions of interest (EOI) opened on 26 September 2024 and close on 22 November 2024.
QRIDA is leading a competitive selection process for the grants, with successful EOI applicants invited to submit a full application. Key application dates can be found below.
Grants are available for up to $200,000 with a 50 per cent cash contribution requirement from applicants to fund projects which provide unique opportunities to generate economic and employment opportunities related to primary production value chains across rural and remote Queensland.
Example projects eligible under the scheme could include:
improved business processes where such investment creates employment
training costs and technical support that are project specific.
Read the guidelines below for more information.
Key dates
| 26 September 2024 | Expressions of interest opened |
| 22 November 2024 | Expressions of interest close at 11:59pm |
| 31 January 2025 | Expressions of interest outcomes will be advised and successful submissions will receive an invitation to submit a full application including an application pack. |
| 28 March 2025 | Applications to apply close at 11:59pm |
| 30 May 2025 | Applicants will be notified of application outcomes. Following this, successful applicants will be announced by the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries. |
| Upon approval and funding agreement | Successful applicants will receive funding to agreed milestones as their project progresses. |
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administers the RED Grant Scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible for funding projects must:
a) generate jobs, provide value for money and significant economic benefit to a relevant rural area
b) be related to primary production value chains.
How can funding be used?
Grants may be used for activities including, but not limited to:
a) capital expenditure on buildings, plant and equipment for the exclusive use of the project
b) new or used plant and equipment for the exclusive use of the project
c) consumables used for the project
d) travel and accommodation where supported by a full itinerary and travel outcomes
e) training costs and technical support that are project specific
f) salary and on-costs for staff and professionals working solely on activities for the funded project.
What can funding not be used for?
Grants may not be used for the following activities:
a) funding a project activity which has already commenced
b) repairing or replacing existing capital infrastructure
c) making payments towards debt
d) purchasing land
e) undertaking training and paying professional costs which are not related to the eligible project activity being applied for
f) conducting feasibility studies
g) paying administration costs.
How to apply
To be considered for a grant you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) Form available below before the EOI closing date.
Frequently asked questions
The 50 per cent cash contribution may be provided in the form of a bank loan, your own funds, project partner funds or a combination of these. Government assistance of any kind cannot be used to make up the 50 per cent contribution.
Local Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Industry Development Officers are available to assist with your Rural Economic Development Grant application and the development and planning of your rural economic project and business.
South QLD – DAF
Stephanie Denman, Principal Agribusiness Development Officer, North Burnett, South Burnett, Gympie, Fraser Coast and Cherbourg council areas
0431 862 372
stephanie.denman@daf.qld.gov.au
Zane Nicholls, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Moreton council areas
0412 032 965
zane.nicholls@daf.qld.gov.au
Peter Broomhall, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Goondiwindi, and Southern Downs council areas
0467 801 186
peter.broomhall@daf.qld.gov.au
Clinton McGrath, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Toowoomba council areas
0428 102 319
clinton.mcgrath@daf.qld.gov.au
David Hickey, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Murweh, Paroo, Bulloo, Quilpie, Maranoa and Balonne council areas
0427 427 503
david.hickey@daf.qld.gov.au
Jamie Gorry, Regional Director, South
0439 739 663
Jamie.gorry@daf.qld.gov.au
Phill Ryan, Manager, Regional Agribusiness Development
0419 778 437
Phill.Ryan@daf.qld.gov.au
Rolfe Ellem, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Bundaberg and North Burnett
0448 362 639
Rolfe.Ellem@daf.qld.gov.au
Emma Knight, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Western Downs
0436 923 955
Emma.knight@daf.qld.gov.au
Robert (Bob) Nissen, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer, Redlands, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Logan and Ipswich
0491 809 825
Robert.nissen@daf.qld.gov.au
Central QLD – DAF
Fleur Anderson, Regional Director, Central
0499 830 344
fleur.anderson@daf.qld.gov.au
Catie Loch, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Rockhampton and Livingstone Council areas
0436 942 958
catie.loch@daf.qld.gov.au
Jessamine Crawford, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (Central Highlands & Woorabinda Council areas)
0499 769 707
Jessamine.Crawford@daf.qld.gov.au
Ron Downing, A/Manager Regional Agribusiness Development (Central QLD)
0436 918 810
ron.downing@daf.qld.gov.au
Timothy Harrison, Manager, Regional Agribusiness Strategy
0467 782 126
timothy.harrison@daf.qld.gov.au
North QLD - DAF
Peter Holden, Principal Agribusiness Development Officer (Ag Strategy) (FNQ and Atherton Tablelands)
(07) 4017 0736
peter.holden@daf.qld.gov.au
Greg Mason, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (FNQ, Atherton Tablelands, Gulf)
(07) 4241 8208
greg.mason@daf.qld.gov.au
Tim McGrath, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (FNQ, Atherton Tablelands, Gulf and Cape York)
(07) 4241 8208
timothy.mcgrath@daf.qld.gov.au
Brock Dembowski, Senior Agribusiness Development Officer (NQ – Burdekin, Hinchinbrook and North West Qld)
0467 819 592
brock.dembowski@daf.qld.gov.au
Aileen Eccles, Manager Regional Agribusiness Development (NQ , Burdekin, Hinchinbrook and North West Qld)
0417 794 929
Aileen.eccles@daf.qld.gov.au
Michael Heidenreich, Manager, Regional Agribusiness Strategy, Cairns
0427 553 496
- michael.heidenreich@daf.qld.gov.au
Funding will be available once a funding agreement is finalised with QRIDA. As project milestones are completed, grant payments will be made to your designated bank account.
You must immediately notify QRIDA if there is a change to the scope of the project. Contact us here.
Grant funding is not guaranteed at any stage of the application process and applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.
In-kind contributions may be offered in addition to the 50 per cent cash contribution to the project.
Applications will be assessed on a competitive basis in each stream against the following criteria:
- Public benefit
- Co-contribution and value for money
- Capability and capacity
- Project attributes.
For more information on how applications will be competitively assessed read the guidelines on this page.
You may use government loan assistance towards your co-contribution to help to fund project activities, for instance, a Sustainability Loan from QRIDA.
However, funding from another government grant program is unable to be used as a co-contribution to fund project activities under the scheme.
Primary production enterprises and small to medium sized businesses applying for the grant must be registered for GST. All other applicant entities need to indicate whether or not they are registered for GST in the form.
Yes, an application for assistance under the scheme can be made jointly by two or more applicants. In these cases only one applicant needs to demonstrate the ability to provide the 50 per cent cash contribution and have adequate experience and/or qualifications to give the applicant a reasonable prospect of success in carrying out the activity. All Applicants must meet the other eligibility criteria.
As stated in the guidelines, EOI outcomes will be advised and successful submissions will receive an invitation to submit a full application including an application pack on 31 January 2025.
If you are successful in receiving a grant you will be required to enter into a legally binding funding agreement with QRIDA. For more information on your grant obligations please read the guidelines.
QRIDA is committed to ensuring due administrative processes are undertaken with the decisioning of applications for Government assistance.
When making decisions on applications, as well as the internal review of a decision, QRIDA follows the QRIDA Decision-Making Policy and Procedure.
You can view this Policy and Procedure on the Reviewing a decision page.
