Community groups have proven vital to the flood recovery effort in Lismore, and now, they can apply for a slice of new funding to help them keep delivering services.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Minns Government has announced a $1 million Community Resilience Grants Program to support grassroots groups undertaking vital disaster recovery efforts.
Lismore MP and NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said the money will help keep many community groups afloat and encouraged them to apply for the grants.
"This $1 million grant program is an injection of vital support to our region - with so many townships still in the medium to long term recovery stage."
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said community groups on the Northern Rivers had been "doing much of the heavy lifting as part of the region's recovery" and said said the funding would help them get back to delivering services.
"These grants will mean they can spend more of their time delivering services to the community instead of raising funds to continue their much-needed and much-appreciated work."
The Community Resilience Grants Program will strengthen the recovery across all seven Local Government Areas of the Northern Rivers and is funded through the Reconstruction Authority.
The program will be delivered by the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF), a community-based philanthropic organisation that helps build healthy and resilient communities across the region.
The grants will support organisations delivering a range of community led recovery assistance such as support for legal and mental health referrals, help organising renovations, the provision of personal protective equipment and connecting communities with charitable organisations.
NRCF CEO Sam Henderson said: "We are thrilled to facilitate this money going into place-based projects to target priority areas such as strengthening community networks and connections, improving current living situations and financial wellbeing."
This announcement comes in the wake of the devastating floods of 2022 and an earlier than expected start to the fire season. The $1 million program is part of the NSW Government's recovery "reset" for the Northern Rivers and offers a funding boost for local community groups.
NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:"The community has told us loud and clear they want to be a part of the recovery process and these grants will go a long way to help achieve that."
"It is one way the government is helping the community of the Northern Rivers by supporting local community groups who are engaged in vital flood recovery work."
The Community Resilience Grants Program is open until December 4, for more information and the full eligibility criteria visit the NRCF website at: nrcf.org.au/grants
