Future-focused grants awarded to rural communities

Media Release

Nutrien Ag Solutions, in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), has awarded $252,924 in grants to 57 local not-for-profit organisations for projects that will contribute to the success, vibrancy and wellbeing of their remote, rural or regional communities. 

Awarded through the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program, the grants will support a broad array of projects, including community facility upgrades, local events and social gatherings, training and mentoring to address issues such as food insecurity and healthcare, and the purchase or upgrade of equipment to support volunteers.  

Since 2021, the Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program has awarded more than $750,000 in grants to 167 community-led projects, helping to create long-term positive outcomes for rural places. 

Mady Muirhead, Corporate Affairs Advisor at Nutrien Ag Solutions, said that the company is proud to support rural communities to implement future-focused solutions that are both attainable and sustainable.  

“Thanks to our partnership with FRRR, we are able to help local grassroots organisations do more of what they do best. These organisations are the heartbeat of remote, rural, and regional communities, and raising funds for local priority projects is getting harder and harder. But we are proud to support them now, and in the long-term.  

Pictured: 2022 Community Grant recipient, 1922 & You

“This year we saw almost 200 local Nutrien branches endorse grant applications and we are proud to fund more than a quarter of those projects. Our people live and work in these communities and thanks to their commitment to building lasting relationships with locals, they know just what projects the community will really value,” Ms Muirhead explained. 

Jill Karena, FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, said that this year, most funding has been directed toward upgrading the amenities or accessibility of community facilities.  

“This reflects the increasing costs and dereliction of ageing community infrastructure and the challenges of fundraising locally to maintain these assets. Even though the grants may be considered small, these improvements will have a big impact on ensuring that these local meeting places are safe and secure so that locals can maintain their social connections.  

“We appreciate Nutrien Ag Solutions’ continued support and investment in this program. It’s these kinds of partnerships that enable us to fund initiatives that are meaningful to the community in which the project is run. No matter what this may look like, we are inspired by the persistence of rural communities, to create a more vibrant and connected Australia,” Ms Karena said. 

See all the recipients of the 2023 Community Grants Program