Kilmore Men’s Shed has been named one of 67 projects across remote, rural and regional Australia to share in almost $800,000 in grants aimed at strengthening communities.
Funded by the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal, FRRR, through the Strengthening Rural Communities, SRC, program, the grants were given to grassroots projects run by organisations led by local people that strengthen their communities and have direct benefits for those living in them.
Kilmore Men’s Shed received about $4000 in funding, which will be put towards the permit application process and the installation of a shade sail outside the building.
“We’re just arranging to get all the permits to put it up, it’ll be pretty big so [the grant] will be for that,” Kilmore Men’s Shed president Paul Harvey said.
“We’d also like to thank the FRRR for making it possible.”
Twenty six of the projects that received funding were to support the ongoing recovery from the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, sharing in $444,552.
FRRR place portfolio lead Jill Karena said there was strong interest from community gardens in the latest round of applications.
“With the cost of living rising on top of the food shortages that are happening as a result of the pandemic and natural disasters like drought and floods, there are growing concerns in rural areas about food security and the lack of access to nutritious, affordable food,” she said.
“Our climate and our economy are rapidly evolving and the grants can be used to support a broad range of community-led, grassroots initiatives that are helping to address very current issues in real time.”
The program is constantly accepting applications, and not-for-profit groups and community groups are encouraged to review the program guidelines and apply. For more information, visit www.frrr.org.au/src.
The full list of grant recipients is available at frrr.org.au/?p=27362. To support FRRR grants, people can make a tax-deductible donation at frrr.org.au/giving.
