• First round grants announced for Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program.
• $1.4 million investment for 33 grants awarded across Australia.
• The program builds the skills and capacity of people and communities and delivers small-scale infrastructure.
North East Victoria’s Ovens & Murray AgBiz Alliance (AgBiz Assist Limited) will receive more than $81,000 in funding to help better prepare for drought under the Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program.
Grants announced today will support community projects across the country to build local drought resilience.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud said the program focuses on local initiatives to enable agricultural communities to be better prepared for the impacts of drought.
“Building drought resilience in North East Victoria benefits the entire Australian agriculture sector. The stronger individual communities are, the more robust our industry becomes as a result,” Minister Littleproud said.
Nationals Senate Leader and Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie said the local project would boost community connectedness and help better prepare for drought.
“Ovens & Murray AgBiz Alliance has received this funding to deliver events that bring people together who are involved in agriculture,” said Senator McKenzie.
“This project is about introducing digital agricultural technology that can be used to build producer resilience to the impacts of drought and climate change.”
A regional website will also be developed with information to sustain community engagement, increased access, participation, as well as improved coordination and collaboration between social and professional networks, other community organisations and sectors in the local community.
The Networks to Build Drought Resilience program is part of an Australian Government investment of $19.2 million in leadership, mentoring, community capacity building and small community infrastructure to help build drought resilience.
Interested organisations are encouraged to apply directly for the second grant round to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Applications are open until 15 November 2021.
For more information on the Future Drought Fund and the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund/networks-build-drought-resilience
Key Facts:
• Eligible organisations can apply directly for the second grant round with FRRR for projects that encourage connectedness in agricultural communities or improve the skills and capacity of network members.
• It is a key program under the $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
• Through the Networks to Build Resilience program, the Australian Government’s investment of $3.375m, together with a $1.125m contribution from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal will enable $4.5 million to be available for on-ground community capacity building projects in these two funding rounds, the second of which is currently underway.