The Federal Government has announced applications for $10.4 million of funding to assist local governments and small businesses get online have opened.

The funding program will aim to help those bodies take advantage of the National Broadband Network, according to Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy.

Senator Conroy said that applications are open for:

  • An expansion of the Digital Local Government program, which will provide grants of up to $375,000 to around 15 councils to deliver innovative online services to homes and businesses using the NBN.
  • The Digital Enterprise - Virtual Advisor program, a new online component of the successful Digital Enterprise program aimed at assisting Indigenous Australians, small-to-medium Indigenous owned and operated enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations located in regional and remote areas to improve their online business presence. Eligible organisations can apply for up to $400,000 over three years to deliver the program.
  • The new $5 million Digital Business Kit program, which will fund ten national peak bodies including those representing the building, farming, retail, manufacturing, and restaurants and café sectors. Peak bodies will develop and roll out sector-specific, online Digital Business Kits aimed at assisting small to medium sized enterprises to get online and take advantage of the NBN.

“Australia aspires to be a leading digital economy, and through the NBN we are able to take advantage of the speeds needed to achieve that competitive edge. These programs assist households, businesses and government to take advantage of the opportunities that meaningful involvement in a digital economy requires,” said Senator Conroy.

To be considered for Digital Local Government program funding, councils are required to submit a business case application to the Department by no later than 5.00pm (AEST) Tuesday 2 July 2013. Program guidelines and a list of eligible local councils for round four of the program are available at www.dbcde.gov.au/digitallocalgov or call (02) 6271 7056.