What is the Rebuilding Regional Communities?
The Rebuilding Regional Communities is a program to help regions bounce back by strengthening social connections, supporting jobs and creating economic opportunities.
Background
From February 2022 until February 2024, a special funding stream to support communities adversely affected by the COVID pandemic is available in partnership with the Australian Government.
The Rebuilding Regional Communitiesstream runs in parallel with our Bushfire Recovery and Small & Vital streams within our flagship Strengthening Rural Communities program.
The Rebuilding Regional Communities stream received grant funding from the Australian Government. Grants are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that assist communities to recover from and adapt to the impacts of the COVID pandemic.
Objectives
Funds can support community-led, place based initiatives that:
- Enhance the process of recovery from the COVID pandemic for remote, rural and regional communities;
- Reduce social isolation and foster stronger, more resilient remote, rural and regional communities; and/or
- Sustain local, regional, rural and remote organisations and their work.
Funding
A total of $5 million will be provided nationally from 2022 to 2024 through two funding tiers:
- Grants up to $10,000 (always open) for communities with fewer than 50,000 people; and
- Grants up to $50,000 (offered twice a year until November 2023), for communities that are classified as remote, rural or regional.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects will have a focus on recovering from or adapting to the impacts of COVID in remote, rural, and regional communities and may include:
- Supporting, training or attracting volunteers;
- Events and activities to reconnect the community;
- Enhancing community spaces to increase community use;
- Developing services and support to assist vulnerable people, and people experiencing disadvantage;
- Purchase of equipment or resources to strengthen organisations that support communities.
Eligible Applicants
To apply, your organisation must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN. If you are unsure if your organisation is a registered not-for-profit (for example, if you are a Co-operative, Other Unincorporated Entity, Public Company or Trust), please contact FRRR;
- Project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
- Organisations with or without DGR endorsement are eligible;
- Organisations can submit one application per grant round;
- For Bushfire Recovery Stream, applicants must be in a declared fire-affected area;
- Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural or regional Australia.
Timing
Applications close 12 April 2022.
