General News
29 November, 2024
Maryborough shortlisted for success
Community groups and not-for-profit organisations in Maryborough could be set to benefit from a five-year program and $600,000 in funding thanks to a new initiative.
In a first from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), the organisation is looking to partner with three Victorian communities in a five-year program aiming to strengthen the capacity of local not-for-profit organisations and community groups.
Called Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF), the program offers flexible and tailored support to strengthen local organisations to more effectively advocate on shared issues, contribute to a thriving community, and achieve long-term impact across key priority areas.
FRRR has identified five regional Victorian communities as having the potential to achieve significant positive impact through the program, including Colac, Hamilton, Portland, Swan Hill and of course Maryborough.
If successful, the program would see Maryborough kitted out with a locally based community facilitator, community-led and informed grants, planning processes, skill-building workshops and local networking opportunities among others.
IRCF Victoria program manager Jo Kemp said the program, which is being rolled out in the state for the first time, offers genuine oppor-tunities for building stronger communities.
“This will be the first time we’ve worked in this particular way in Victoria,” she said.
“The beauty and exciting part of this program is that it goes for five years, it really allows communities to go on a journey.
“One of the key things we hope to see and this program demonstrates is communities coming together to collaborate on shared priorities and ideas.
“Long term we want to see communities collaborating on things together and being able to advocate for themselves to achieve positive change into the future.”
According to FRRR, access to the support it provides through the IRCF will be free as a result of partnerships with four philanthropic organisations, amounting to a total investment of around $600,000 in grants for successful communities.
Ms Kemp encouraged local not-for-profit groups to attend an information session next week which will explore what’s involved in partnering with FRRR as a community and how the process will work.
Details will be provided about the next steps for communities keen to express their interest in being involved over the coming years.
“We’re encouraging as many representatives from community groups and not-for-profits in Maryborough to jump online for that information session next week,” Ms Kemp said.
“It’ll be a great insight into what this program looks like and the outcomes we’ve seen in other communities we’ve partnered with.”
The information session will be held next Tuesday, December 3 from 1.30 to 2.30 pm online.
Groups will be able to join once they’ve registered at events.humanitix.com/investing-in-rural-community-futures-victoria-maryborough.
After an EOI process and in-community workshops in the New Year, three communities will be chosen.