Western Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can now access further support to secure work on major projects, with a new round of the Local Capability Fund (LCF) launched by the State Government.
The latest round of the fund – aligned with the Government’s Made in WA plan – is focused on helping local businesses build their capacity to participate in supply chains linked to large-scale WA developments.
Grants of up to $50,000 are available to eligible businesses, which can be used to fund improvements such as buying and upgrading equipment, training staff, or meeting pre-qualification requirements.
There are five targeted rounds, each closing September 4:
- Supplying Key Projects: increasing the capability and capacity of SMEs to supply products, services and works to key government and private sector projects;
- Aboriginal Business: supporting Aboriginal businesses across Western Australia that are seeking to better prepare to supply products, services and works to local, state and federal governments, as well as the private sector;
- National and International Standards: assisting SMEs with the costs of using external expertise to implement and obtain third-party certification for national and international standards;
- Regional Suppliers: supporting regional businesses as suppliers to major projects and markets; and
- Digital Transformation: assisting WA SMEs in their adoption of digital technology to improve outcomes such as productivity, efficiency, competitiveness, resilience and safety.
For more grants, check out our Grant Finder!
Helping SMEs compete
The LCF helps local businesses meet the requirements of government and private sector contracts.
Previous rounds of the fund have awarded more than $30 million to over 870 WA companies to improve competitiveness, build capability and diversify into new sectors.
CCIWA Acting co-CEO Aaron Morey welcomed the fund as a step towards helping local suppliers tap into long-term work pipelines.
“Securing a foothold in major project supply chains can be transformative for WA businesses but too often, capability barriers get in the way,” he said.
“This funding gives SMEs the tools they need to meet project standards, scale up and ultimately keep more of the economic value of major investments here in WA.”
Grants can be used to cover a range of expenses that will support contract-readiness, including:
- Upgrading manufacturing equipment
- Investing in new technologies
- Meeting quality assurance standards
- Improving occupational health and safety systems
- Staff training and certification
CCIWA Members have access to our Grant Finder to help you identify which local, State or Federal Government grants best suit your business needs.
