What is the Small Business Roadhouse to Recovery Grant?
The Small Business Roadhouse to Recovery Grant is a program to assist wayside inns and roadhouses with infrastructure improvements to encourage self-drive tourists to stay additional nights in the Territory, by providing capacity for additional accommodation between regional centres.
Background
One outcome of COVID-19 has been the substantial increase in the tourism drive market and the expectation is that this will continue to grow as more states open their borders.
Families are a growing self-drive market, and infrastructure that supports families, such as play spaces, family cabins or rooms or baby change room amenities, will be welcomed as part of this program.
The Northern Territory Government is providing $4 million of grant funding through the Territory Small Business Roadhouse to Recovery Grant to assist regional and remote wayside inns and roadhouse operators to undertake projects that will improve the on-ground visitor experience in the Northern Territory.
Funding
Funding has been made available to assist wayside inns and roadhouses to improve their visitor experience with grants of up to $150,000 in funding to support infrastructure improvements.
Eligible Projects
As a guide only, examples of projects may include (but are not limited to):
- infrastructure upgrades to address shortcomings in the existing tourism visitor experience (e.g. new ablution blocks, refurbished accommodation, family accommodation)
- new or improved food and beverage offerings (e.g. kitchen upgrades or new equipment to expand menu offerings)
- upgrading facilities to accessibility standards (e.g. ramps, bathroom facilities)
- value adding existing experiences with additional activities (e.g. new playground, new accommodation or new activities to extend a travellers stay in the region).
Eligible Applicants
To be supported through this program, applicants will be assessed on a competitive basis, with priority given to remote owners of wayside inns and roadhouses. Applicants must:
- be Australian registered and legally constituted have a significant Northern Territory tourism focus, currently offering hospitality to the drive market
- be able to identify / provide evidence of the customer experience “problem” or gap and how the funding will improve that gap
- provide, at a minimum, three of the five services: onsite accommodation, sites for caravans or other
self-contained mobile accommodation, meals and/or groceries, fuel and activities - be able to demonstrate how they meet the remote criteria of this grant program.
Timing
Applications close 14 January 2021.
