Our New Market Access Program provides grants to eligible Tasmanian organisations to assist business growth and develop new interstate markets.

The program aims to develop Tasmanian businesses by:

• improving sales and product awareness
• improving national and international competitiveness and
• increasing opportunities to grow the business.

What is it?

Our program provides practical assistance with market planning, promotional activity and negotiating new distribution channels and sales. This includes access to professional advice,assistance toward attendance to trade shows, associated expenses and much more.

Are you eligible for assistance?

To be eligible to apply for funding from the New Market Access Program your organisation must:

• be an existing Tasmanian small to medium enterprise
• have an indicative annual turnover of over $500,000
• sell or be in the process of selling products or services interstate or overseas or replace imports into Tasmania
• operate under sound financial management principles
• be able to demonstrate short to medium term net economic benefits to Tasmania such as increased employment, capital investment and off island export sales

What’s the benefit?

Grants are generally limited to $10,000 on a shared cost basis.  Payments will be in arrears based on pre-approval.

Group delivery workshops are also funded on a shared cost basis with the department’s contribution paid directly to the workshop facilitator.

What can’t you use the grant for?

The following will not be considered as eligible expenditure:

• wages or salaries
• research and development
• capital expenditure

Are you ineligible for assistance?

The organisations listed below are ineligible to apply for funding from this program.

• a State, Federal or local government body
• a charitable organisation
• a school or tertiary institution or a parents and friends association
• an individual
• an organisation which does not have permanent business representation in Tasmania

Your obligations if successful

You will be entering into a contractual agreement with the department to ensure the project objectives are met within an agreed timeframe.

Your organisation together with the project, may become the subject of published case studies to help others learn and be inspired from the experiences gained.

Successful applicants will be asked to complete a client monitoring document which includes details such as number of employees, financial statements, sales generated and capital investment purchases.

How to apply

Applications for the 2005-06 New Market Access Program open

1 July 2005  and close 30 May 2006.  Applications can be submitted at any time.

Further information  on the application process is available through Business Point.

What other programs and services could assist?

We offer a range of programs and services for business development which include supporting business growth, investment and export activity.

This encourages innovation, excellence and entrepreneurship and helps to increase the capacity of individuals, enterprises and communities to contribute to Tasmania’s economy.

Find out more

Contact Business Point by telephone on 1800 440 026, by email businesspoint@development.tas.gov.au or visit our website www.development.tas.gov.au.