The Strategic Partnerships Program purpose is to fund proposals that substantially increase economic activity in one or more of the following:

1. Increasing the number of people working and living in the city including students
2. Attracting new businesses to the city
3. Leveraging investment in the city’s innovation assets and entities (for example Lot Fourteen and BioMed City) to drive greater economic benefit for the CBD
4. Positioning Adelaide as a world class events city by ensuring that events not only attract attendees but also encourage longer stays and repeat visits
5. Driving tourism initiatives that attract regional, national and international visitors
6. Enhancing the value proposition of Adelaide as a destination to work, invest, live, study and visit.
7. Decreasing shopfront vacancies in the city.

Projects will need to be able to demonstrate clear outcomes attributable to the funding received, contain quantifiable success measures and an ability to demonstrate ROI.

Importantly, the Strategic Partnerships Program aims to support the development of new, relationships between AEDA and other organisations that accelerate economic activity in the City of Adelaide, as well as providing a means to deepen and strengthen existing relationships by building on and extending previously funded activities. For example, additional benefits could include:

• Offering AEDA connections and introductions to new businesses (locally, nationally and internationally) who may be interested in establishing in the City
• Offering AEDA’s current and relevant data to city businesses and potential investors, aiding their decision-making processes
• Connecting AEDA’s capacity of offering marketing support and business support to businesses operating in the visitor economy
• Connecting AEDA to opportunities to increase institutional investment in city residential projects, including student accommodation, vertical retirement living, and build-to-rent developments
• Bringing opportunities to partner with the State Government, universities, associations, community and advocacy groups to activate and upgrade precincts to stimulate investment, visitation and maximise opportunities

More broadly, this program is designed to support the outcomes of the CoA Strategic Plan 2024-2028 and the 2024/25 AEDA Business Plan.

AEDA is interested in organisations that deliver projects aligned to the City of Adelaide Strategic Plan 2024-2028 and the 2024/25 AEDA Business Plan.

Specifically, the Strategic Partnerships Program is suitable for proposals that substantially increase economic activity in one or more of the following:

1. Increasing the number of people working and living in the city including students
2. Attracting new businesses to the city
3. Leveraging investment in the city’s innovation assets and entities (for example Lot Fourteen and BioMed City) to drive greater economic benefit for the CBD
4. Positioning Adelaide as a world class events city by ensuring that events not only attract attendees but also encourage longer stays and repeat visits.
5. Driving tourism initiatives that attract regional, national and international visitors
6. Enhancing the value proposition of Adelaide as a destination to work, invest, live, study and visit.

Projects will need to be able to demonstrate clear outcomes attributable to the funding received, contain quantifiable success measures and an ability to demonstrate ROI.

Moreover, the Strategic Partnerships Program aims to support the development of new relationships between AEDA and other organisations to accelerate economic activity in the City of Adelaide. It also provides a means to deepen and strengthen existing relationships by building on and extending previously funded activities.

Once you have discussed your proposal with the Executive Manager, Business Growth & Investment Attraction, you will need to complete your application online via SmartyGrants. You must register if you are a new SmartyGrants user. If you already have a SmartyGrants account, you can use your existing details to log in and complete an application. Your application form can be saved and updated at any time until you click ‘submit’.

All questions in the application form must be answered and any requested attachments provided in order to be assessed. You must not refer to an attached document as your only response to a question. You may, however, reference an attachment in support of your answer.

21 October 2024

Sponsorship applications open

28 November 2024

Sponsorship applications close 4:00pm ACST

December 2024/January 2025

Applications assessed by AEDA/CoA staff

February 2025

Funding recommendations presented for consideration and approval

February 2025

Applicants notified of funding request outcome

Funding provided through the program will be in the range of $75,000 to $330,000 +GST per applicant per annum.

Proposals can be for either single year funding (which must be delivered within 2025-26) or for a multi-year period of up to three years.

Yes, separate applications must be submitted by organisations applying for funding for multiple proposals/programs. I.E. one application per proposal/program with the exception of a series of activities recurring events.

Applicants may only receive funding for one proposal.

A clear budget with income and expenditure forecasts, including all confirmed partners and other contributions.

Other contributions are encouraged and could include government grants, membership fees, and revenue generated through the project. While in-kind contributions can be accepted, direct financial contributions would be preferred.

Proposals can be for 12 months up to three years.

The assessment of proposals is a competitive process, and applications will be considered on merits against the assessment criteria. The assessment panel will provide recommendations to the AEDA Managing Director, with final approval of projects provided by the AEDA Board.

Applications that meet the eligibility and assessment criteria are not guaranteed funding.

Proposals will be assessed, and applicants notified late February following a planned AEDA board meeting. If additional information is requested, this may affect the timing of advice given to applicants.

The program will only support the delivery of projects that have an impact within the City of Adelaide boundary.

Prior to payment, all successful applicants will be required to:

• Enter into a funding agreement with AEDA detailing benefits in return for the sponsorship investment as well as mutually agreed KPIs
• A copy of the organisations Return-to-Work SA certificate of registration or similar employee insurance (if paid staff are employed)
• Provide AEDA with a Certificate of Currency for Professional Indemnity Insurance (minimum $20 million) noting AEDA as an interested party
• Provide AEDA with a Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance (minimum $20 million) noting AEDA as an interested party
• Provide AEDA with a tax-compliant invoice for the agreed amount of funding plus GST (10%) (if the applicant is registered for GST).

If a proposal is successful, you will be assigned a Senior Manager, to work with you to develop the scope of the partnership and funding agreement. This person will connect with partners regularly and specifically at the mid-way progress report.

Payments will be split into instalments, depending on the length of the agreement. An initial payment will be made upon a co-signed partnership agreement. The agreement is likely to include at least one instalment payment subject to progress of the project.

Successful applicants will be required to evaluate the project and report on the outcomes.

All successful proposals are required to complete a detailed report on outcomes of the project.

Long term projects will require regular reporting determined by the nature of the proposal. The reporting requirements will be articulated in the funding agreement.

All projects are required to complete an acquittal report via SmartyGrants within six weeks from the conclusion of each project including a summary of the outcomes, visual documentation (if applicable) and evaluation results.

Currently via our Strategic Partnership Program we are funding Renew Adelaide, Study Adeliade, Adelaide Business Events and Festival Adelaide, which will conclude on 30 June 2024. Note: under a different set of Strategic Partnership Program Guidelines we are also funding MTP Connect, University of Adelaide/ThincLab and SouthStart. The focus for these Partners is to deliver intensive support for small business to scale up.

For more information please contact:

Tiffany Katchmar 

Executive Manager, Business Growth & Investment