Last week I gave a brief introduction to the Commonwealth Government’s new Climate Ready grants scheme. This week I’ll talk about getting started in the application process.

Before even thinking about applying for a Climate Ready grant the best thing to do is have a look at the sample application form, customer information guide and eligible expenditure guidelines which can be downloaded from the AusIndustry’s Climate Ready site. If reading those documents doesn’t scare you off then the first step in the application process is to submit a “customer enquiry form” available from the same site. I found the form relatively easy to fill out and submitted it on 31st July. A few days later I was sent a CD containing an application form. Then an AusIndustry customer service manager (CSM) contacted me to discuss the project and to inform me that if I want to get into the first round which closes on 4th September I’ll need to submit a detailed draft application by the beginning of next week. The pressure’s on.

Because I was already in the system from previous contacts with AusIndustry I didn’t have to provide too much extra information to the CSM but an applicant new to the system might be required to have a face-to-face meeting with AusIndustry people before they are given the application form. They seem to be keen on ensuring only applications which are competitive are submitted.

Even though the application process is a cut down version of the old Commercial Ready scheme it is still a lot of work. Because I’m new to marketing and commercialisation I’d estimate I’ve spent about two months work gathering and refining the information needed for a grant application. I’m doing all the work myself although some applicants will use a consultant to help them draft the application and to act as middle-man between the applicant and AusIndustry. Total consultant fees vary widely from about 5% to 20% of the grant amount so thoroughly check what exactly it is they do, i.e. how much work do they put in and how much will they require the applicant to do. One disadvantage of a consultant is the extra layer of communications which can slow down the whole process. An experienced mentor could be just as good as a consultant.

Another source of good advice is AusIndustry itself as the CSM will usually return the draft application with feedback about how it can be improved. Only after AusIndustry officially accepts the application can the project spending be counted as being eligible expenditure. Although there’s still no guarantee the grant will be successful so the applicant needs to take that into account when budgeting for the project. I’ll be applying for a grant in the lower end of the scale, around $80,000. I don’t know what someone does if they can’t scrape up the minimum amount for matching a grant ($50,000), I suppose they get nothing as punishment for being poor.