Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal hands out more than $1.6m in grants across the country

FRRR has awarded $1,589,612 in grants to help build the resilience and long-term vitality of smaller remote, rural and regional communities through its Strengthening Rural Communities program.

CASH SPLASH: More than $1.6 million in grants have been handed out by the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal’s Strengthening Rural Communities program.

Remote, rural and regional communities across Queensland will benefit from more than $1.6 million in grants thanks to the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal’s Strengthening Rural Communities program.

A total of $1,589,612 in grants for 112 projects nationwide were announced this week, which will enable smaller remote, rural, and regional communities to receive funding for a wide range of initiatives led by local people and address local needs.

This round of SRC includes funding across three streams – Small Vital, Larger Leverage and Bushfire Recovery grants and grants range from $323 for first aid and snake bite kits for the Harts Range Amateur Race Club in remote Northern Territory, through to a $25,000 grant to support healing and the preservation of culture by providing the opportunity for Kullilli people to travel to Thargomindah in Queensland and be on Kullilli country to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

Closer to home, the Lions Club of Cecil Plains has been granted $4707 for a portable PA system, while in Esk $8000 has been given to increase community pride and support local recovery through refurbishment of the Esk CWA hall.

The Taabinga State School Parents and Citizens Association in Kingaro was granted $10,000 to encourage children to be active and families to be involved in their education through improving the outdoor play area at Taabinga State School.

FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said this round of SRC had seen rural communities across Australia seek funding for inspiring initiatives that built community resilience and supported individual and community health and wellbeing at a local level.

“Many communities have been impacted by multiple disasters, including the recent flooding in NSW and parts of Queensland,” she said.

“For these regions, economic recovery from the disasters has been severely challenged by Covid-19. For community organisations, the pandemic has hampered fundraising efforts and their capacity to provide services.

“Understandably, local volunteers are pretty worn out. In response, we have awarded a number of grants for projects that will relieve volunteer-fatigue and alleviate the pressures that many volunteer-led groups are dealing with.

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) CEO Natalie Egleton. Photo: Supplied

“Rural communities gain strength and vitality when locals have places to gather and connect, so it’s not surprising that we continue to see strong demand for projects that build community resilience by investing in local community assets and infrastructure, particularly the maintenance of community halls. And, as gathering restrictions ease, we are seeing more requests for work on outdoor spaces and for community events, as people come together to strengthen community engagement and participation.”

The current round is accepting applications until August 24 2021, with funds to be awarded in December 2021.

For a full list of grant recipients and their projects click here.