Grants Available for Community Groups to Establish Digital Hubs

Not for Profit and Community Organisations can apply for a share of $13.6 million in grant funding under the Federal Government’s Digital Hubs and Digital Enterprise programs.

The Digital Hubs program provides training and support to residents in local communities to gain the skills needed to maximise the benefits of the NBN.

Community organisations— such as public libraries, local councils, community support services, and adult learning centres—can apply to provide the activities of a Digital Hub.

The Digital Enterprise program provides funding for training to assist small-to-medium enterprises and Not for Profit organisations better understand how they can take advantage of the NBN and online opportunities more generally.

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced that under the second round of funding, the government is looking for applications from local organisations in the communities of Bacchus Marsh (VIC); Coffs Harbour (NSW); Darwin (NT); Deloraine (TAS); George Town (TAS); Geraldton (WA); Goodna (QLD); Gungahlin (ACT); Kingston Beach (TAS); Modbury (SA); Prospect (SA); Richmond (NSW); Riverstone (NSW); South Hobart (TAS); South Morang (VIC); St Helens (TAS); Triabunna (TAS); Toowoomba (QLD); and Victoria Park (WA).

The programs will be offered progressively in the first 40 communities to benefit from the NBN. Rollout of the program will be aligned to the NBN rollout schedule.

Round one of the programs targeted the five first-release mainland sites and three early release sites in Tasmania.

Total grant funding of $13.6 million is available for the Digital Hubs program. The Digital Enterprise program will provide total grant funding of $10 million.

The closing date for applications is 2pm AEDT on 3 February 2012.

To view the guidelines for Round 2 of the Grant Funding, click here. [PDF]

To find out more information about the Digital Hubs and Digital Enterprise programs visit: www.dbcde.gov.au/digitalhubs