Councils, businesses, and organisations in bushfire-impacted areas of NSW are being encouraged to apply for project-funding grants enabling local recovery.
Applications for the $250 million Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, co-funded by the Federal and NSW governments, open on 27 October.
Grants of between $200,000 and $20 million will be available for projects such as:
- Local community and cultural infrastructure;
- Tourism campaigns (including digital product development) and regional events;
- Workforce adaptation and work-ready training programs;
- Community wellbeing and mental health programs;
- Tourism infrastructure including walking and mountain bike trails; and
- Neighbourhood safer places.
Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said: “Bushfire recovery looks different in each community, and no one is better placed to identify local priorities than local people.
“I encourage fire-affected communities to get together and consider what can be done to boost their economy, their wellbeing and their recovery; I look forward to seeing what people come up with and the benefits that will flow long-term.”
Applications for grants from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund will remain open until 10 November.
Alongside this open call for project ideas, shovel-ready projects are being identified in bushfire-affected areas so they can be considered and fast-tracked to provide community and economic benefits as quickly as possible.
Information about these projects will be released in the coming weeks.