RURAL finance provider Rabobank has put the call out for applicants looking to put in for its Rural Community Hub Program.
The focus of the current round of funding is community halls, and there are 10 grants of $10,000 available.
“The Rabobank Community Fund is pleased to provide this funding to help local halls and community hubs remain important places for community participation and engagement in rural areas,” said company CEO Caroline Oosterbaan.
“These halls are often key meeting places for farming communities, offering trusted spaces for locals to gather, particularly in isolated areas.
“They can also provide refuge and support during emergencies and natural disasters, while hosting training sessions and workshops that give communities access to valuable education opportunities.”
Launched in 2021, the Rabobank’s Rabo Community Fund has given away thousands of dollars in community support.
Last round the program received almost 300 applications.
One of the successful recipients was the Rowena Community Hall in North West New South Wales, and hall association member Vanessa Radford said the facility played an important role in the community.
“The hall had never had air conditioning except for one small room, and thanks to Rabobank’s Rural Community Hub Program there is now reverse cycle throughout, which makes it a lot more comfortable for everyone; as you can imagine it can get quite hot here in summer,” she said.
“The hall had previously been condemned and not used for four years, so the Program funding kick-started a full community and local council campaign to restore the well-loved building.
“It was a very hard four years considering our community uses the hall for so many functions.
“It’s so important, everyone needs somewhere to go and it can hold so many events, I look back on all my beautiful memories that we’ve had at the hall here during my time at Rowena, and I think back on the four years that it wasn’t used; it left a huge hole in the community.”
Applications for the Rabobank Rural Community Hub Program close on Sunday 30 August and recipients will be announced in early October.
For more information visit the Rabobank website.