Bushfire affected communities in Victoria can now apply for a further $14.6 million to help with their recovery with the second round of Local Economic Recovery community grants program now open.
Announcing the second stage of Local Community Project Grants today, Australian Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud and Victorian Acting Minister for Police and Emergency Services Danny Pearson encouraged organisations to apply for funding.
Under the LER Local Community Project Grants, $14.6 million is available for grants of up to $2 million to fund projects that support local economic recovery and build a sense of community pride and connectedness.
"This funding allows councils, community members and local business groups to shape the long-term recovery of Victoria's bushfire-affected regions," Minister Littleproud said.
"Communities have suffered due to drought, bushfire and COVID, and the Local Economic Recovery program is about creating jobs, backing businesses, and supporting communities to become more resilient to disasters in the future," he said.
Applications can be made by a range of organisations, including not-for-profits, local government and private businesses, Acting Minister Pearson said.
"These grants are supporting those smaller, local-level projects in communities that can really enhance tourism and business while also restoring that sense of community connectedness and pride that is so important to recovery," Mr Pearson said.
"We are working at the pace of community. Some communities are recovering at a different pace than others and that's why we have taken this phased approach to providing funding for community priorities."
Organisations wanting to apply are strongly encouraged to complete the online Registration of Interest through the Bushfire Recovery Victoria website. This will connect them with Bushfire Recovery Victoria staff to discuss their proposal, before they apply.
To lodge a Registration of Interest or find out more about the LER program, visit www.brv.vic.gov.au.
Applicants must also discuss their proposal with their local Community Recovery Committee at least two weeks before submitting their application and provide evidence of support for their project.
Applications open on 15 March 2021 and close on 12 April 2021. Applicants may submit applications for more than one project.
