ANZ provides $300,000 in Seeds of Renewal grants to regional communities
ANZ and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) today announced the regional communities that will share in $300,000 of grants under the Seeds of Renewal program.
Funded by ANZ and independently administered by FRRR, Seeds of Renewal this year attracted more than 540 grant applications and is providing small grants to 60 not-for-profit organisations to undertake projects around Australia that help strengthen community enterprise.
FRRR Chief Executive Officer, Sylvia Admans said: “We’ve been very pleased with the interest in the program this year. Whilst not being able to provide grants to everyone, we focused on projects that will assist in the long term wellbeing and growth of local communities.”
ANZ Managing Director Retail Distribution, Louis Hawke said: “We are committed to supporting local communities and appreciate the valuable role community groups play in supporting regional and rural business in Australia. We trust the grants will provide recipients with the boost they need to kick start their projects.”
The successful projects for 2009 include:
Upgrade of kitchen and distribution facilities of a senior citizen’s day respite centre in Kingaroy in Queensland.
Expansion of a volunteer run craft shop in Barmedman, south west of Sydney.
Development of a food and wine trail in the Murraylands area of South Australia.
Purchase of a thermal imaging camera to enable the rural fire brigade in Lowan, Victoria to scan large haystacks and detect hot spots.
Establishment of a community garden in Dodges Ferry, Tasmania for use by the local primary school students, community members and for horticulture training purposes.
A farm sustainability project which includes the development of a propagation shed to enable the Wanarn community in Northern Territory to grow more vegetables and produce emu plants to sell to the local Landcare group.
Replacement of a kiln and introduction of pottery classes as part of a visual arts centre upgrade in Kambalda West in West Australia.
Seeds of Renewal is in its seventh year and has issued more than $2.3 million to 530 small community projects during this time.