$2 million in funding opportunities for remote communities in the Northern Territory has opened for application.

Two funding programs are a part of the Remote Aboriginal Development Fund which will be open for application twice a year.

The funding is available for initiatives that have a positive impact on economic development, employment opportunities and the improvement of governance in communities.

Grants of up to $100,000 are available for economic development opportunities.

To be eligible for a grant, an organisation or project must be located in a remote region and be a non-profit or Aboriginal organisation or enterprise, including partnerships and joint ventures with majority Aboriginal ownership.

The funding program comes in place of the CLP’s Community Champions program – which was scrapped by Labor and ceased to operate in June.

Under the former program government department chief executives were matched with remote communities – giving them greater opportunity to get local ideas for economic development started.