Grants Sow the Seeds of Renewal in Regional Australia
10 July 2017 at 4:17 pm
Initiatives helping to build vibrant and sustainable rural communities are being called on to apply for a share of $250,000 of grant funding, as ANZ celebrates 15 years of “sowing the seeds of renewal” in regional Australia.
Applications for the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program, which has provided $4.3 million to support 779 community groups since it was first launched in 2003, are now open.
The 2017 program, launched by ANZ and the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR), and supported by Lenovo, seeks to identify and support projects that will deliver demonstrable medium-to-long-term economic benefits to the community.
ANZ general manager of regional business banking Isaac Rankin said the program had a proud history of supporting regional Australia.
“Seeds of Renewal is truly an investment in regional Australia and our regional communities,” Rankin said.
“The hundreds of community-based, grassroots programs and initiatives that Seeds of Renewal has supported over the years have left a lasting legacy and created new opportunities for economic diversification, transition and prosperity across the country.”
The program, which is administered independently by FRRR, offers grants of up to $15,000 to community groups for projects which help advance education and employment opportunities in regional communities of fewer than 15,000 people.
Technology company Lenovo also donates IT equipment, giving applicants the chance to apply for laptops or tablets instead of a monetary grant.
Since inception, Seeds of Renewal grants have contributed to a variety of initiatives including the construction and restoration of community facilities, education, training and mentoring programs, and the development of social enterprises.
FRRR chief executive officer Natalie Egleton said the grants often “kick-started sustainable change” within the community.
“A key focus of the program is to empower regional communities to build a strong and sustainable future for themselves,” Egleton said.
“Last year alone, Seeds of Renewal funded 26 grant applications, contributing to the delivery of successful programs that upskilled and educated individuals and community groups – opening doors to new opportunities.”
Applications close at 5pm on 4 August with successful applicants notified in November 2017.
For more information see the FRRR website.
