Phillip Island and Bass Coast organisations will soon be able to apply for funding under the Coalition Government’s newly announced $297 million Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).
The Federal Government is committed to investing in projects that will create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger rural, regional and remote communities into the future.
Locals know our community best and the BBRF gives community groups and councils the opportunity to develop projects that will strengthen our region.
Funding under the BBRF will be available in two streams:
• The Infrastructure Projects Stream will invest in projects that involve the construction of new infrastructure, or upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure.
• The Community Investments Stream will invest in local events and activities, strategic regional plans and leadership and capability building activities.
There are key differences between the new Building Better Regions Fund and previous funds.
Projects in major capital cities will not be eligible under the Building Better Regions guidelines. This is a Fund for rural, regional and remote communities.
A brand new source of funding will be available for community projects – a Community Investments Stream. The Community Investments Stream might help expand a local festival, attract a theatre production or major sporting event to the region to bring more visitors to the town, or it might be leadership or business training for young locals.
The new social benefit criteria will allow applicants to show how their project will make their region a more attractive place to live, or improve community connections.
Also, projects will now be assessed against projects of similar size, so small community projects are not competing against huge projects.
We’ve designed the Building Better Regions Fund to back projects that help build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to.
The Program Guidelines for the Building Better Regions Fund outline the type of project proposals sought, how to lodge an application, how assessment will be conducted, and critical program dates.
The Building Better Regions Fund replaces the National Stronger Regions Fund which has now closed.
To access the BBRF guidelines, and to lodge an application from 18 January 2017, visit www.business.gov.au/bbrf