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Future-focused grants awarded to rural communities

Menchie Khairuddin October 19, 2023

3 min read

Nutrien Ag Solutions, in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), has awarded $252,924 in grants to 57 local not-for-profit organisations for projects that will contribute to the success, vibrancy and wellbeing of their remote, rural or regional communities.

Awarded through the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program, the grants will support a broad array of projects, including community facility upgrades, local events and social gatherings, training and mentoring to address issues such as food insecurity and healthcare, and the purchase or upgrade of equipment to support volunteers.

Since 2021, the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program has awarded more than $750,000 in grants to 167 community-led projects, helping to create long-term positive outcomes for rural places.

“Thanks to our partnership with FRRR, we are able to help local grassroots organisations do more of what they do best,” said Nutrien Ag Solutions Corporate Affairs Advisor Mady Muirhead.

According to Muirhead, the company is proud to support rural communities to implement future-focused solutions that are both attainable and sustainable.

“These organisations are the heartbeat of remote, rural and regional communities, and raising funds for local priority projects is getting harder and harder. But we are proud to support them now, and in the long term.”

Muirhead highlighted that this year they saw almost 200 local Nutrien branches endorse grant applications and they are proud to fund more than a quarter of those projects.

“Our people live and work in these communities and thanks to their commitment to building lasting relationships with locals, they know just what projects the community will really value,” Muirhead added.

Jill Karena, FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, said that this year, most funding has been directed toward upgrading the amenities or accessibility of community facilities.

“This reflects the increasing costs and dereliction of ageing community infrastructure and the challenges of fundraising locally to maintain these assets.”

“Even though the grants may be considered small, these improvements will have a big impact on ensuring that these local meeting places are safe and secure so that locals can maintain their social connections.”

Some of the 57 organisations and projects being supported include:

Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service Limited, in Tenterfield, NSW, has been awarded $5,000 to enhance the organisation’s fundraising capability and facilitate community engagement by purchasing a barbeque trailer.
Riding for the Disabled Association Top End, in Darwin, NT has been awarded $5,000 to increase disability support services through equipment to increase coach capacity for walking horses at Top End Riding for the Disabled.
Banana Shire Community Arts Assoc Inc, in Biloela, QLD, has been awarded $4,778 to improve community facilities with a water tank at the Biloela Community Garden enabling efficient water use for growing fruit and vegetables for community access.
Manoora Centenary Park Incorporated, in Manoora, SA, has been awarded $5,000 to enhance community first aid access at the Manoora Centenary Park by creating a dedicated space for first aid to be administered and improving hygiene, secure storage and patient privacy.
Huon Valley Police & Community Youth Club Inc, in Huonville, TAS, has been awarded $5,000 to host a program focused on disadvantaged youth that helps them learn about the importance of teamwork, cooperation, communication and leadership.
Committee of Management of Dunrobin Public Hall and Reserve Inc., in Dunrobin, VIC, has been awarded $2,746 to build community capacity through the purchase of new chairs and a stainless steel urn to support safe and comfortable use of the Dunrobin Hall.
Dumbleyung Community Resource Centre, in Dumbleyung, WA, has been awarded $4,597 to support community connection with the purchase of an inflatable screen to enable inclusive access to free movie nights across the year for a small remote community.

“No matter what this may look like, we are inspired by the persistence of rural communities, to create a more vibrant and connected Australia,” added Karena.

A full list of grant recipients is available on FRRR’s website.

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.