Cash for tiny towns

REGIONAL Victorian towns with populations of up to five thousand people are being invited to take advantage of State Government funding.

Premier and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan announced recently that applications for the latest $20 million Tiny Towns Fund would be received until 25 October.

Ms Allan said the grants, from $5000 up to $50,000, were designed to help make the state’s smallest communities better places to live, work and visit.

Towns can apply for grants for a range of projects from new barbecues, bike tracks and walking trails to club and community hall upgrades.

“Townships that have not yet received a Tiny Towns grant, or that have worthy project ideas to boost community resilience, recovery and economic growth are encouraged to apply in this second round, with updates made to the application process to make it even easier for smaller, volunteer-run community groups to apply,” Ms Allan said.

“Supporting projects that make small communities great is one of the ways we encourage their vibrancy, making them even better places to visit and live.”

Regional Development Victoria, the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and the Suburbs, and the Department of Transport and Planning deliver the fund.

The Business Victoria Grants Portal will be used for applications and can be accessed by visiting the business.vic.gov.au webpage.

Applicants will be required to make a co-contribution towards the proposed project budget in line with the requirements outlined in the program guidelines.

They will be asked to describe a proposed project that shows a direct benefit to the town and its community through alignment with the Tiny Town Fund objectives.

The fund is open to applications from incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and councils. Visit rdv.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/tiny-towns-fund for more information.