Building Better Regions Fund
• Specific funding for investment ready projects in regional, rural and remote Australia.
• Funding will be available across two streams – infrastructure projects and community investments.
• Information session scheduled in Dubbo on 31 January and Wagga Wagga on 2 February 2017.
Community groups and local councils are encourage to apply for funding under the Building Better Regions Fund, which is available for community and infrastructure projects in the Riverina and Central West.
Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said the fund is dedicated purely as an investment in opportunities across rural, regional and remote Australia.
"The Coalition Government's Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) is designed to invest in projects that will create the kinds of regional communities that our children and grandchildren want to either stay in or come back to," Minister Nash said.
"The BBRF will give communities the opportunity to think outside the square and show us the types of investments they believe will strengthen their local community and create jobs.
"Flexible, creative thinking can be a winning formula to receive funding, providing clear objectives are mapped out that show benefits for the region."
The Nationals' Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said applications will be assessed in three categories depending on the size of the project – so small community projects are not competing against huge projects worth tens of millions.
"We want to invest in the infrastructure, events and initiatives that we are passionate about and that we know will make a difference to our region," Mr McCormack said.
"Our region has already been successful in securing funding for regional priorities with the Coalition committing funding to key regional development projects including, the expansion of the Central West Livestock Exchange in Forbes, the main street redevelopment in Gundagai, the extension of Parkes Regional Airport Business Park, the development of a medical precinct in Temora and the construction of a three court indoor stadium as well as a multipurpose facility at Kurrajong Waratah both in Wagga Wagga."
"For those living in the Central West they might like to attend an information session that will be held in Dubbo at the Western Plains Cultural Centre at 10.30am on 31 January 2017 and for those in the Riverina they may choose to attend the session to be held at 10.00am on 2 February 2017 at the Wagga Wagga City Council Chambers. These information sessions will allow applicants the opportunity to find out more about the Building Better Regions Fund."
Applications will close on Tuesday 28 February 2017 for the Infrastructure Projects Stream and Friday 31 March 2017 for the Community Investments Stream.
To register for an information session or to find out more visit www.business.gov.au/bbrf