Grants for Aboriginal businesses

Local Capability Fund Aboriginal Round

The Local Capability Fund (LCF) aims to provide financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their capacity, capability and competitiveness in supplying major projects and markets both in Australia and overseas. Grants of up to $50,000 are available and a maximum of 50% of eligible costs.

Funding is specifically designed to support Western Australian Aboriginal small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in improving their business capability, capacity and competitiveness to participate as suppliers of goods, services and works to export markets, Western Australian State or Local Government agencies, the Australian Government and the private business sector. To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be an Aboriginal business (at least 50% owned by an Aboriginal interest);

  • Be registered with either the Aboriginal Business Directory Western Australia or the Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct;

  • Be operating in a trade-exposed industry (or an industry that faces competition from other national or international SMEs);

  • Have been operating in Western Australia for at least 12 months at the time of application submission;

  • Be registered for GST for at least 12 months prior to application submission and intend to remain registered for the next 12 months;

  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN);

  • Be a for-profit organisation or business, or an incorporated not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation operating as a commercial enterprise;

  • Have its principal place of business in Western Australia and continue to be based there for at least 12 months following the application submission; and

  • Have at least one full-time equivalent (FTE) employee, in addition to the owner, but fewer than 200 FTE employees at the time of application submission

Applications close 13 September 2024. For more information visit the WA Government website.