Living Local Regional Fund

Overview

The $5 million Our Regions: Living Local – Regional Fund provides funding to support regional communities to recover and thrive. The fund has two streams to drive economic and social recovery in the regional areas hardest hit by the pandemic and provides funding for local community-building projects that promote social connections and cohesion, enhance liveability, and revitalise community spaces.

The Our Regions: Living Local Fund is part of the Government’s Our Regions: Living Local Initiative and is geared to ensure local towns will have the infrastructure they need to continue to thrive. Local councils and community organisations can apply for grants up to $200,000 for infrastructure projects. Smaller investments of up to $20,000 will be available for minor upgrades and maintenance to facilities, helping ensure they are accessible for years to come.

The Our Regions: Living Local Fund also offers grants for projects in metropolitan Melbourne communities. For further information, visit the Suburban Development website.

Objectives of Program

The Our Regions: Living Local – Regional Fund provides funding for local community-building projects that promote social connections, enhance liveability, and revitalise regional shopping strips and activity centres. The fund also provides grants to community organisations to help them in the great work they do to support their local communities.

The Our Regions: Living Local – Regional Fund comprises two streams:

Living Local – Regional Grants Program ($4 million)
Living Local – Regional Community Grants Program ($1 million).

The objectives of the Living Local – Regional Grants Program are to:

support the development, improvement and promotion of regional communities, shopping strips and activity centres as places of local economic activity and community gathering that work towards environmental sustainability
deliver permanent co-funded projects or sustainable community events and related activity that reflect the needs of local people and enhance living, working, socialising and recreation in local areas
enhance community inclusiveness, belonging, and participation, particularly among new residents and new workers and to support young people and mental health
focus on smaller scale approaches to revitalising regional communities that can be delivered in partnership with local government, businesses, and community sector organisations and groups
enhance liveability, safety, accessibility and vibrancy of communities, shopping strips and activity centres
enhance opportunities for small business in community shopping strips to thrive
progress reconciliation with Traditional Owners through the encouragement of proposals to incorporate local and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories.

The objectives of the Living Local – Regional Community Grants Program are to:

increase community connection, capacity, access and participation
develop and enhance a stronger sense of community belonging and connection
enhance community inclusiveness, belonging and participation, particularly amongst new residents
enhance local social outcomes.

Funding Details

The Living Local – Regional Grants Program is a competitive grants program open to eligible rural and regional local governments and incorporated (not-for-profit) organisations/associations.

Applicants may seek a minimum of $20,000 and maximum of $200,000 (exclusive of GST).

The Living Local – Regional Community Grants Program is open to applications from not-for-profit and charity organisations that are operating in rural and regional Victoria.

Community organisations can seek from $2,000 up to $20,000 (exclusive of GST) of grant funding for eligible equipment and minor refurbishments.

Application Process

Applicants are encouraged to email livinglocalfund@ecodev.vic.gov.au to discuss your idea and seek advice. A list of frequently asked questions is available to assist you with to determining your eligibility and developing application.

Before applying, please ensure that you:

have read and understood the information in the program guidelines
have all required documentation on hand.

Eligible applications will be assessed against response to the assessment criteria as well as supporting documents.

Apply for a Living Local - Regional Grant

Apply for a Living Local - Regional Community Grant

Applications for both streams closed 11.59pm, 14 August 2022.

Step 1

Familiarise yourself with the program guidelines for the corresponding program and check that you can demonstrate the project’s ability to address each of the assessment criteria.

Step 2

Email Living Local Fund or call the Business Victoria Hotline on 13 22 15 to discuss your idea and seek advice.

Step 3

Complete the online form for the corresponding grants program and submit your application by the closing date.

Download Resources

Resource	Download
Living Local - Regional Grants Program Guidelines (192.8 KB )	Download
Living Local - Regional Community Grants Program Guidelines (215.2 KB )	Download
Living Local - Regional Community Grants Program Guidelines - Accessible (55.9 KB )	Download
Living Local - Regional Grants Program Guidelines - Acccessible (60.5 KB )	Download
Living Local - Regional Grants Project Plan Template (92.8 KB )	Download
Living Local - Regional Grants Project Progress Report Template (52.5 KB )	Download
Living Local - Regional Grants Project Final Report Template (58.4 KB )	Download
Living Local - Regional Community Grants Project Final Report Template (55.7 KB )	Download

Projects funded by this program

Discover which projects we are supporting through the Our Regions: Living Local – Regional Fund to make communities thrive.

Living Local Regional Grants Program

Ararat Rural City Council: Power our future!! (Grampians) - $42,000
Ararat Rural City Council: Ararat Regional Playgrounds All Abilities Redevelopment (Grampians) - $180,000
Ballarat City Council: Accessibility, Arts and Assistance Dogs in the Ballarat CBD (Grampians) - $26,250
Baw Baw Shire Council: Digital Tourism and Community Information Kiosks - Neerim South and Yarragon (Gippsland) - $28,475
Benalla Art Gallery: Between the Details (Hume) - $29,798
Campaspe Shire Council Echuca War Memorial Aquatic Centre: Kyvalley Hall All Access Project (Loddon - Mallee) - $26,000
Corangamite Shire Council: Light Up Camperdown (Barwon South West) - $200,000
Cyril Callister Foundation: Cyril Callister Foundation Inc - Vegemite Museum. (Grampians) - $37,943
Deddick Valley Isolated Community Group: Service Hub Network - Building Healthy and Resilient Communities through Service Equity (Stage 2) (Gippsland) - $198,943
East Gippsland Shire Council: Upgrade Omeo streetscape (Gippsland) - $200,000
Gippsland MTB Inc: Haunted Hills Bike Park BBQ Area Upgrade (Gippsland) - $20,000
Girl Guides Victoria: Daylesford Girl Guide Hall Rejuvenation (Metro - Melbourne) - $47,000
Glenelg Shire Council: Portland Foreshore and Retail Precinct Landscape and Public Furniture Activation (Barwon South West) - $50,000
Golden Plains Shire Council: Lethbridge Play Space Upgrade (Grampians) - $200,000
Golden Plains Shire Council: Linton Bowls Carpark Upgrade (Grampians) - $82,500
Golden Plains Shire Council: Smythesdale Medical Clinic Fit Out (Grampians) - $50,000
Greater Geelong City Council: Geelong West Neighbourhood House Precinct Renewal (Barwon South West) - $65,000
Greater Geelong City Council: Central Geelong Window Display Activation (Barwon South West) - $30,000
Hands of Change Limited (Central Highlands) - $20,000
Mansfield Armchair Cinemas: Rest Room Upgrade for MAC Community (Hume) - $70,000
Millewa - Carwarp Landcare Group: Cullulleraine Foreshore nature play (Loddon - Mallee) - $168,125
Moira Council Care: Cobram Off-Leash Dog Park (Hume) - $62,081
Moorabool Shire Council: Darley Park Play Space Development (Grampians) - $200,000
Northern Grampians Shire Council: Grampians Gatherings 2023 (Grampians) - $48,000
Parklands Albury Wodonga Limited: Murray River Red Gum Trail boardwalks connecting community (Hume) - $50,000
Regional Community Vet Clinic: Regional Community Relocatable Vet Clinic (Loddon - Mallee) - $50,000
Sunraysia Residential Services Inc: Benetook Farm Mission (Loddon - Mallee) - $163,636
Swan Hill Rural City Council: Revitalising Nyah West Shopping Precinct (Loddon - Mallee) - $195,000
Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve Committee of Management: Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve Public Toilets. (Gippsland) - $194,973
Tatura Civic Halls Committee Inc.: Tatura Civic Halls Air-Conditioning (Hume) - $20,600
The Equality Project (Ovens Murray) - $10,602
Victorian Railways Institute Inc (Central Highlands) - $5,450
Victorian Railways Institute Inc (Loddon Campaspe) - $18,590
Victorian YMCA Youth and Community Services Inc (Gippsland) - $15,681
Wodonga Sports & Leisure Centre: Wodonga Council Underpass Solar Lighting Project. (Hume) - $37,277
Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club Incorporated: Woolamai Beach community hub upgrades. (Gippsland) - $182,659
Yallourn Yallourn North Football Netball Club: New Kitchen Appliances including Oven and Fridge (Gippsland) - $20,000
Yarck Mechanics Institute and Library: Yarck Hall Rejuvination (Hume) - $23,800

Living Local Regional Community Grants

Baddaginnie Community Inc (Hume) - $20,000
Badger Creek & District Men's Shed (BC&DMS) (Hume) - $2,607
Ballan Shire Historical Sociaty Inc. (Grampians) - $4,400
Ballarat Regional Trades & Labour Council (Grampians) - $20,000
Birallee Park Neighbourhood House Inc (Hume) - $11,828
Birregurra Public Hall (Barwon South West) - $20,000
Bluebird Foundation Inc (Barwon South West) - $7,695
Buda Historic Home and Garden Inc. (Loddon - Mallee) - $9,964
Castlemaine State Festival Ltd (Loddon - Mallee) - $17,394
Coghills Creek Progress Association Inc. (Grampians) - $3,933
Connect GV (Hume) - $20,000
Dereel and Surrounding Communities Men's Shed Inc. (Grampians) - $3,916
Dunolly and District Neighbourhood Centre Inc (Loddon - Mallee) - $2,441
Friends of Canadian Corridor (Grampians) - $6,039
Girgarre Community Group Inc (Loddon - Mallee) - $5,049
Hamilton Community House Incorp (Barwon South West) - $5,005
Hands of Change Limited (Grampians) - $20,000
Heywood Mens Talk Group Inc (Barwon South West) - $5,212
Indigo U3A Incorporated (Hume) - $16,180
Julia Street Creative Space Inc (Barwon South West) - $20,000
Kaniva & District Progress Association (Grampians) - $5,950
Kilmore District Men's Shed Inc. (Hume) - $2,755
Lancefield Neighbourhood House Inc (Loddon - Mallee) - $3,345
Latrobe Valley Beekeepers Association Inc (Gippsland) - $20,000
Life Skills Victoria Inc (Gippsland) - $6,770
Lyonville Community Planning Group (Grampians) - $7,057
Macedon Ranges Further Education Centre Inc (Loddon - Mallee) - $20,000
Mansfield Autism Statewide Services (Hume) - $20,000
Maude and District Landcare Group (Grampians) - $15,352
Meredith Community Centre INC (Grampians) - $6,001
North Shepparton Community & Learning Centre Inc (Hume) - $6,686
Numurkah Community Learning Centre Inc (Hume) - $7,815
Omeo Region Business & Tourism Association Inc (Gippsland) - $9,590
Phillip Island Community Art & Craft Gallery Inc (Gippsland) - $2,567
Pomonal Men's Shed Inc (Grampians) - $3,992
Scope (Aust) Ltd (Metro - Eastern) - $18,997
Simpson & District Community Centre Inc (Barwon South West) - $5,809
St Leonards Mens Shed (Barwon South West) - $5,230
Talbot Arts & Historical Museum Inc (Loddon - Mallee) - $20,000
Tallygaroopna Mens Shed Inc (Hume) - $4,827
The Equality Project (Metro - Melbourne) - $10,602
The South West Alternative Medium Project (SWAMP) (Barwon South West) - $16,750
Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group Inc. (Hume) - $3,924
Venus Bay, Tarwin Lower & District Men's Shed Inc (Gippsland) - $7,042
Walhalla Goldfields Railway Inc (Gippsland) - $9,664
Watchem Mechanics Institute (Loddon - Mallee) - $7,784
Winchelsea Community House Inc. (Barwon South West) - $13,985
Woodend Mens' Shed Inc (Loddon - Mallee) - $5,035
Wycheproof Community Resource Centre Inc (Loddon - Mallee) - $2,287
Yea Community House (Hume) - $5,712