The Australian Government's Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP) is a chance to transform bold visions into lasting realities.
Participation can help your business strengthen its ties to your region, support community needs, and eventually reap economic rewards. The initiative aims to bring communities, businesses, and governments together to create multi-purpose precincts that foster growth, innovation, and local pride.
Here’s everything you need to know about the program, why it matters, and how you can get involved.
What is rPPP?
The rPPP is a $400 million funding opportunity for regional, rural, and remote areas in Australia. Unlike traditional grants, which might focus on singular projects, the rPPP emphasises building ‘precincts’ – tailored, multi-purpose hubs designed to meet local needs while reflecting a shared vision for the community.
These precincts could be commercial hubs, community spaces, neighbourhood centres, or even mixed-use areas, combining infrastructure and recreational zones. Whatever the focus, the precinct model encourages long-term collaboration and sustainable development.
Funding is offered through two streams:
Stream One (Planning)
Access $500,000 to $5 million to develop and design precinct plans, activating partnerships to create investment-ready projects.
Stream Two (Delivery)
Secure up to $50 million to build key components of a precinct, such as critical infrastructure or catalytic projects that help bring the shared vision to life.
Why should regional industry partners consider the rPPP?
Traditional research funding may already be familiar territory for regional businesses and organisations partnering with La Trobe University. However, the rPPP goes beyond the scope of standalone projects by encouraging efforts that integrate multiple infrastructure elements and stakeholders to drive meaningful, long-term community outcomes.
Here’s how participation can benefit you:
Collaborative growth
This program is all about partnerships and collaboration! Whether teaming up with local councils, universities like La Trobe, or community organisations, the precinct model ensures that diverse groups work towards mutually beneficial outcomes.
Unlock funding opportunities
With funding allocations ranging from $500,000 to $50 million, the rPPP offers unparalleled investment potential for impactful projects tailored to regional needs.
Foster local innovation
A precinct brings diverse sectors together, creating unique opportunities for your business to test and deploy innovative solutions that also benefit the wider community.
Boost regional development
This program supports projects that can revitalise towns, improve infrastructure, create jobs, and raise the standard of living for your local area.
How does the program work?
To better understand how the rPPP functions, it’s essential to first understand the precinct concept and its partnership-driven approach.
Stream One provides funding to get ideas off the ground by developing comprehensive investment-ready plans. This includes:
- Forming partnerships across regional businesses, government agencies, universities like La Trobe, and community groups
- Engaging stakeholders for community feedback and buy-in to deliver precinct visions that are locally relevant and supported
- Ensuring plans align with broader Australian Government priorities, such as decarbonisation, housing affordability, Indigenous community engagement, and economic diversification.
For example, if your organisation aims to transform an underutilised site into a business hub that also incorporates community spaces, Stream One funding can help you develop partnerships, conduct feasibility studies, and design the precinct blueprint.
Then there’s Stream Two: Precinct Delivery.
This stream offers even greater investment to transform plans into reality. Whether your focus is foundational infrastructure – such as roads, utilities, open spaces – or flagship buildings that anchor community development, Stream Two helps deliver long-term outcomes. Stream Two deliverables might include:
- Building an advanced manufacturing hub that integrates shared resources for local businesses
- Developing a cultural precinct with a mix of performance venues, community meeting areas, and green spaces
- Establishing regional health precincts, offering health and wellness services alongside integrated research facilities.
With an emphasis on place-based development, Stream Two projects not only bring infrastructure improvements but also enhance productivity, equity, and resilience across regional areas.
Get Started
For more information about the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, visit the official program page or check your project’s eligibility using the mapping tool.
