• First round grants announced for Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program
• $1.4 million investment for 33 grants awarded across Australia
• The program builds the skills and capacity of people and communities and delivers small-scale infrastructure

Regional communities in Mallee will share in $114,790 to help them better prepare for drought under the Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program.Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud said the grants announced today will support community projects to build local drought resilience.“The program focuses on local initiatives to enable agricultural communities to be better prepared for the impacts of drought,” Minister Littleproud said.Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster said building drought resilience in Mallee will benefit the entire Australian agriculture sector.“The stronger individual communities are, the more robust our industry becomes as a result. The projects in Mallee will boost community connectedness and help local communities better prepare for drought,” Dr Webster said.“Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc. will receive $44,290 for the project that will create an online learning community to help farmers manage soil in drought,” Dr Webster said.“Charlton Neighbourhood House Inc will be the recipient of $21,000 to support their Buloke First People’s art Trail project.“Birchip Cropping Group Inc received $49,500 to fund their project ‘Filling the GAPP’: a project that will focus on Growth, Adoption, Productivity and Profit, with BCG hosting a series of networking activities across the region during 2022.”Page 2 Media release from David Littleproud – Minister for Agriculture and Northern AustraliaFiona Best, CEO of Birchip Cropping Group said that providing opportunities for the farming community to establish professional networks with which to exchange ideas, challenges and solutions will be a key element of the BCG project.“Farm business resilience can be enhanced by having a strong support network of peers to engage with. This is particularly important during times of drought” Ms Best said.The $3.75 million Networks to Build Drought Resilience program is part of a total Australian Government investment of $19.2 million in leadership, mentoring, community capacity building and small community infrastructure to help build drought resilience.Interested organisations are encouraged to apply directly for the second grant round to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Applications are open until 15 November 2021.For more information on the Future Drought Fund and the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund/networks-build-drought-resilienceFast Facts:

• Eligible organisations can apply directly for the second grant round with FRRR for projects that encourage connectedness in agricultural communities or improve the skills and capacity of network members.
• It is a key program under the $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
• Through the Networks to Build Resilience program, the Australian Government’s investment of $3.375m, together with a $1.125m contribution from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal will enable $4.5 million to be available for on-ground community capacity building projects in these two funding rounds, the second of which is currently underway.