Friday , 20 July 2007

SYKES: SMALL GRANTS FOR SMALL RURAL COMMUNITIES

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, reminds all non profit organisations of the second round of small grants on offer by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

Applications from rural communities with a population of 10,000 or less will receive priority.

Dr Sykes said, “This has been a valuable program, and a number of community organisations in the Benalla Electorate have been successful in past rounds with funding made available to Arts for All in Mt Beauty, Kids N Cars at Violet Town & the Albert Heaney Reserve at Lima East”.

The program has been made possible by the support of The R E Ross Trust, The Myer Foundation, The Pratt Foundation, The William Buckland Foundation, Perpetual Trustees, DOTARS, The Sylvia & Charles Viertel Foundation and FRRR.

Dr Sykes said, “On my travels around the electorate I have had many requests for funding. This round of FRRR funding focuses on small communities, and many towns in the Electorate of Benalla are eligible to apply.”

“The total pool of funding is $300,000. Grants of up to $5,000 are being made available to small rural & regional non profit organisations that have projects and activities that aid the sustainability of their community. The program is simple and straight forward with a swift application and approval process,” continued Dr Sykes.

Applications that support the following areas of interest will be given preference:

• Community hardship in drought affected areas;

• Community infrastructure;

• Resettlement of immigrants in rural Australia;

• Retention of young people in rural & regional Australia;

The closing date for this final round of funding for 2007 is Sunday 30 September.

Application forms, guidelines and further information can be obtained from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal website http://www.frrr.org.au Freecall 1800 170 020 or via email to info@frr.org.au.

Application forms are also available by contacting Peta Clark, Grant Researcher, at Bill Sykes’ office on 5762 2100.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989