The Burdekin Woodcrafts Association Incorporated, in Ayr, have recently been awarded a grant of $9,450 as part of a shared Australia-wide $1.4 million grant for rural areas, from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR). This funding will be utilised to establish an additional storage area for the wood crafters.
The initiative aims to enhance the group's capacity to support community projects and minimise environmental waste by facilitating the purchase and outfitting of a storage facility for donated wood.
One hundred and twenty-nine community groups, including Ayr, across remote, rural and regional Australia are sharing nearly $1.4 million in grants through FRRR’s flagship Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program.
Awarded via three streams of funding, SRC grants support small and vital projects, like upgrades to the community pool in Cummins, SA; COVID recovery projects, such as creating of an arts and cultural precinct in the remote community of Tully, QLD; and disaster preparedness or recovery initiatives, like providing culturally informed, trauma-responsive community healing days for the flood-affected community of Lismore, NSW.
FRRR received a record 450 applications for this round of SRC funding, requesting more than $4.5 million in grants for projects valued at more than $19 million. The team has worked hard to shorten the time between applying and awarding SRC grants, with these grants being awarded just nine weeks after the round closed.
Jill Karena, FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, says that there is an increasing need for FRRR to fill gaps in areas that may have previously relied on funding from government incentives or programs or support from local businesses.
“The SRC program is flexible and open year-round, meaning it can lean in when Government and other agencies lean out.
"This access to continued funding opportunities is especially vital in communities that are moving beyond the immediate threats and response to natural disasters and other shocks.
“This round, we have seen increased applications from the organisers of community events, such as local agricultural shows, as some local governments are reducing their annual funding support.
“We also saw increased funding requests from smaller more remote communities that are seeking to boost the local economy by developing activities and events to encourage overnight stays from visitors who would otherwise pass through,” she said.
In addition to the 129 initiatives awarded grants, there were a further 85 funding-ready projects, requesting more than $900,000, that FRRR did not have the funds to support. This highlights the importance of small grants to remote, rural and regional community groups and is why FRRR is seeking new partners so that the Foundation can fund more projects in the future.
“Given the uncertainty of the current financial landscape, groups have told us that they value having access to timely secured funding to support medium to long term goals, as well as initiatives that respond to present needs and priorities,” Ms Karena added.
A full list of grant recipients is available on FRRR’s website.
Local not-for-profit organisations and community groups are encouraged to review the program guidelines and apply.
More information about the SRC program is available at www.frrr.org.au/src.
Geoff from the Burdekin Woodcrafts Association made this custom glass walled display case made to house an old school bell. The Association recently benefited from a grant from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal
Glastonbury Hall & Recreation Association Inc used their SRC grant, awarded in 2022, to create a safer and more secure space at the Hall by establishing it as a Disaster Centre Hub
