Seeds of Renewal gives $250,000 to 35 community projects across Australia
- Grants support education and employment projects in regional areas -
- Seeds of Renewal celebrates ten years in regional Australia –
- More than $3 million given to 635 programs since its inception –
ANZ and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) today announced that 35 communities across regional Australia will share $250,000 as part of the 2012 Seeds of Renewal local grants program.
Now in its tenth year, Seeds of Renewal aims to build thriving regional communities by advancing education and employment opportunities through the provision of local grants.
Tania Motton, ANZ’s General Manager, Regional Business Banking said: “ANZ has a long history of supporting people living and working in regional Australia, and through programs like Seeds of Renewal we’re helping local communities to implement local solutions.
“We have now provided more than $3 million in grants to 635 programs since we began the Seeds of Renewal program with the FRRR ten years ago. We’re proud of the achievements we’ve been able to bring about – from helping students with online learning, to helping establish training programs for unemployed youth. Regional communities are seeing real change as a result of this program,” Ms Motton said.
Alexandra Gartmann, FRRR’s CEO said the funded programs will help build skills and capacity in regional communities, which is essential to developing sustainable economies.
“Rural and regional communities are adept at solving their own challenges, because they know what fits their social framework, culture and capacity.
“It’s great to be able to support projects like Huon Valley Ignite and Grow Project, which will provide local business owners with training to enhance their administration skills, and follow it up with one-on-one coaching to help ensure local businesses remain strong and can keep the community vibrant,” said Ms Gartmann.
Details of the recipients and their projects are attached to this release, and more information can be found on the FRRR website: www.frrr.org.au/seeds
As part of its ‘Banking on Australia program’, ANZ also recently committed to providing $20 million over the next five years to improving the financial literacy levels of vulnerable Australians. In working with its community partners like the Brotherhood of St Laurence, ANZ has helped deliver financial literacy programs to around 200,000 people in 270 communities across Australia.