Small grants for small rural communities

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, advises all not-for-profit organisations that the Small Grants for Rural Communities Program is once again being offered by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) in 2007. Applications from communities with a population of 10,000 or less will receive priority.

Dr Sykes said, “The total pool of funding is $300,000. Grants of up to $5,000 are being made available to small rural & regional not-for-profit organisations that have projects and activities that aid the sustainability of their community. The program is simple and straight forward with a swift application and approval process.

Dr Sykes continued, “This has been a valuable program and I am pleased that the following community organisations in the Benalla Electorate were successful in the past round of funding - Tawonga CFA, Euroa Health Inc and the Myrtleford Apex Club.

The program has been made possible by the support of The R E Ross Trust, The Myer Foundation, The Pratt Foundation, The William Buckland Foundation, Perpetual Trustees, The Sylvia & Charles Viertel Foundation and FRRR.

Applications that support the following areas of interest will be given preference:

· Community hardship in drought affected areas;
· Community infrastructure;
· Resettlement of immigrants in rural Australia;
· Retention of young people in rural & Regional Australia;

There are two rounds of small grants per year. Closing dates for applications are
31 March 2007 and 30 September 2007.

Dr Sykes concluded, “On my travels around the electorate I have many requests for funding. This round of FRRR funding focuses on small communities, and I encourage the many towns in the Electorate of Benalla who are eligible to apply.”

Application forms, guidelines and further information can be obtained from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal website http://www.frrr.org.au,
Freecall 1800 170 020 or via email to info@frrr.org.au.

Application forms are also available by contacting Peta Clark, Grants Researcher, at Bill Sykes’ office on 5762 2100.