Nutrien Ag Solutions and FRRR (Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal) have announced the 59 recipients of the 2024 Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program, with over $1 million invested in remote, rural or regional communities through the program over the past four years.
The 2024 not-for-profit (NFP) recipients will receive a share of $250,000 for projects that will contribute to the success, vibrancy and wellbeing of their communities. Grants have been awarded in every state and each of the projects supported will receive up to $5,000.
This is the fourth round of the annual Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants program, which aims to strengthen resilience and sustainability and contribute toward long-term positive social and environmental outcomes.
Mady Muirhead, Corporate Affairs Advisor at Nutrien Ag Solutions, said that it’s wonderful to be able to support so many of the places where the Nutrien staff live and work.
“The nature of our business means that most of our staff live and work in small communities across remote, rural and regional Australia. We love seeing our branch staff making sure that their community know about the grants, and we often find that they also get involved in projects like working bees or events. By supporting the grassroots organisations that are the heartbeat of these communities, we know that we are contributing to the success, wellbeing and vibrancy of these places that our people call home,” Ms Muirhead said.
FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, Jill Karena, said that the partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions means that community groups, especially in smaller, more remote locations, can access the funding they need to create vibrant and sustainable communities.
“Small rural communities – especially those with fewer than 500 people – find it hard to raise the funds to deliver key activities, so we are grateful for our partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions, as it means that we can help local not for profit groups in these communities to continue to function and deliver critical services and activities.
“Like all of us, these volunteer-led organisations are also feeling the increases in the cost of living, so we’re pleased that a significant tranche of funding has gone toward helping to sustain local community organisations and to host events that both bring the community together and raise vital funds for key local projects.
“As in previous rounds, the most common requests were for funding to support infrastructure and equipment. Many community facilities, which are critical to sustaining social cohesion, are deteriorating as government funding declines, so these grants will help to maintain and enhance these important local meeting places and help create vibrant, resilient communities,” Ms Karena said.
Among the projects funded are:
- In Ballan VIC, the Community House and Adult Education Centre has received $5,000 toward a disability access ramp.
- In Tilpa in very remote NSW, the Tilpa Community Committee will use $1,000 towards garden tools.
- In Teelba, in remote QLD, the Primary School P&C Association will use a $5,000 grant to restore the school landscaping.
- In Padthaway SA, the Progress and Development Association will put their $5,000 grant towards a new display fridge at their community cafe.
- In Darkan WA, the West Arthur Community Resource Centre will use their $5,000 grant to lease a car for community use.
- In Huonville TAS, the Huon She Shed will use their $5,000 grant towards internal heating and a ceiling fan in their shed.
The full list of grants awarded and a snapshot of the projects is available on FRRR’s website.
If your group could benefit from an FRRR grant, head to www.frrr.org.au/find-funding-now to explore the programs currently open.
FRRR’s grant programs are always in demand, so if you can help us award more grants to deserving organisations that have funding-ready projects, contact our team via partnerships@frrr.org.au.