Grants open for Dairy Foundation

Community organisations across Gippsland are encouraged to apply for the Gardiner Dairy Foundation’s community grants program.

Grants of up to $5000 are available through the annual program.

Grants are available to registered not-forprofit groups and can be used for a wide variety of community activities including community arts, health and wellbeing, environment, infrastructure, education, history and much more.

A total of $121,000 will be available. Since launching the program with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), in 2002, Gardiner Dairy Foundation has distributed almost $2 million to Victorian dairy communities and has supported 471 projects.

“With better seasonal conditions in most regions, morale in dairy communities has improved over the past 12 months,” said Gardiner Dairy Foundation chief executive Clive Noble.

“People can breathe a little easier and now is a good time for community groups to look at some of the projects they may have deferred.

He encouraged community leaders to take advantage of the grants, to leverage the money available with other inputs and to continue to improve and enrich dairy communities.

FRRR acting ceo Sarah Matthee said the grants were designed to give dairy communities the boost they may need to make great things happen.

“Last year was tough for most rural communities, and Victorian dairy communities were no exception. We’ve seen from previous grant recipients that a small grant can open doors for further funding, and it will be great to visit some of last year’s grants recipients to see what kind of opportunities have grown from the funding, and how they have used the grants to help address the needs of their communities,” she said.

Applications close on Tuesday, March 16. For more information go to: https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/gardinercommunities-grants/