The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal Tackling Tough Times Together grant program will now be open year-round, with recipients announced in April and September. 

The program, which is now in its fourth year, is designed to support community and encourage skill development.

Grants are available through two streams: small grants of up to $15,000; and large or multi-year grants up to $50,000, for projects that have deeper and broader impacts.

The guidelines are deliberately broad to allow communities to seek support for what they need most.

They have evolved over time and supporting local economic recovery is a new objective for the grant program, as communities look to new business, culture and tourism as more reliable sources of economic stimulation than agriculture.

FRRR’s Qld program manager Jacki Dimond said while recent rains are welcome, communities are still experiencing the long-term impacts of ongoing drought.

“Some areas are well into their sixth year of drought, and even in those communities where it has rained, the drought isn’t over,” Ms Dimond said. 

“We visited some of these areas toward the end of last year and heard first-hand the importance of having ongoing funding available, so we are pleased to be able to offer more certainty to groups that have a project still in development.

“Past grants have supported projects as diverse as multi-generational old-time dance workshops to the development of a community owned agri-tourism event, so we are looking forward to seeing more innovative projects coming forward,” she said.

“For the larger grants in particular, it’s important that people call me to discuss their idea, before they put in an application, to ensure alignment with the program.”

Before applying for the program, groups should read the Guidelines, which are available from www.frrr.org.au/grants/TTTT