Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education
Senator the Hon Bridget Mckenzie
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience
Jaclyn Symes MP
Victorian Minister for Emergency Services
Victorian Attorney-General
Bushfire affected communities in Victoria can now apply for a share of $3.8 million to support local community projects under the jointly funded Local Economic Recovery (LER) program.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the Federal and state joint funding will invest in projects that support local economic recovery and build a sense of community pride and connectedness.
"We know that recovery takes time. This third and final round of funding in Victoria under the LER program is intended to fund those smaller-scale, local-level projects that can make a big impact in communities.
"The funding is focused on supporting local solutions to local needs and building community pride. Projects approved in earlier LER rounds have delivered upgrades to facilities and enhancements to community spaces to increase economic and social benefits, improve community wellbeing and increase longer term resilience for future emergency events," Minister McKenzie said.
Victorian Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes said charities, local governments, businesses and other organisations could apply.
"This program has been integral to many recovery projects across bushfire affected communities - from rebuilding community facilities to helping locals find jobs and stimulating regional economies." Minister Symes said.
"We particularly encourage proposals involving small local projects that can really boost tourism and business while also supporting the sense of community connectedness and pride that is so important to recovery."
Proposed projects must be in one of the eligible project location areas in East Gippsland or North East. This includes the East Gippsland Shire, Wellington Shire, Towong Shire, Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire, Mansfield Shire, Rural City of Wangaratta, Wodonga City, Falls Creek Alpine Resort, Mount Hotham Alpine Resort, Mount Buller and Mount Stirling Alpine Resort.
Applications open today and close on 11 April 2022.
To lodge a Registration of Interest or find out more about the Local Economic Recovery grants program, visit www.brv.vic.gov.au.
The Local Economic Recovery program in Victoria of $68.5 million is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
