Regional Night-Time Economy Program applications open

Applications are now open for the Regional Night-Time Economy Program, a new pilot program aimed at supporting business collectives in regional towns to create more vibrant, lively centres after dark.

The program combines funding with capacity-building to help businesses identify opportunities for vibrancy and deliver collaborative initiatives that develop their local economies from the day into the night. It comprises two components:

• Capacity-building to strengthen capability and support business collectives in delivering their grant funded project. Capacity-building topics might include vision setting, strategic planning, diversification and programming, and marketing.

• Grant funding of $100,000-$200,000 for six or more local businesses to enable project coordination, marketing and promotion, and events and activations to enhance night-time vibrancy in the town centre or precinct.

The program is open to eligible Applicants across 93 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in regional NSW.*

Visit the program website for further information including:

• Program Guidelines containing further detail on eligibility criteria, assessment criteria, and the application process.

• Fact Sheet for Businesses

• FAQs

If your regional town has untapped potential for more night-time vibrancy, connect with local businesses and find out more below.

* Please note that for the purposes of this program, areas identified as metropolitan by the NSW Government Budget 2025-26 are not eligible for this program, including LGAs in Greater Sydney, as well as City of Newcastle and City of Wollongong.

Attend an online information session:

• Thursday 23 October 2025 from 2pm to 3pm. Register here.

• Tuesday 28 October 2025 from 3pm to 4pm. Register here.

• Monday 2 November 2025 from 10am to 11am. Register here.

Apply online:

Apply via our website by 2pm AEDT on Thursday 20 November 2025.