A FURTHER 30 groups in cotton growing regions will benefit from a $5000 boost just before the festive season, as the 2016 Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities grants are awarded again.
A total of $450,000 has now been distributed over the last three years across NSW and Queensland.
For three consecutive years, cotton farmers have nominated local not-for-profit or community organisations they think deserve one of the 30 grants on offer. Since it was first launched in 2014, the program, offered by the Monsanto Fund in partnership with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) has benefited over 250,000 people directly and indirectly, by funding a diverse range of community-oriented projects.
FRRR chief executive Natalie Egleton said after three years, the true impact of the grants on our recipient communities was becoming more obvious.
“The nature of the projects funded offer sustained and wide-reaching benefits to the recipient communities,” Ms Egleton said.
“In 2015 alone, 150,000 people benefited from the projects supported by these grants, including over 6,000 farmers and 40,000 low-income individuals. This year, we expect a further 268,000 to benefit as well.
“There is wide evidence to suggest that strong social capital enables communities to better withstand challenges including natural disasters, interruptions to local economies, and climate variables.
“Many of the projects funded through the Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program - such as the upgrading of local community facilities, health services, education programs, community gardens and improvements to community engagement resources - reinforce this.”
Cotton Australia chief executive Adam Kay said it was fantastic to see another 30 diverse projects awarded grants, giving cotton growing communities an important boost just prior to Christmas.
“Over the last three years, we’ve seen the impact of these grants on the recipients themselves and their communities,” Mr Kay said.
“In some cases, the grants have acted as seed funding, enabling organisations to get projects off the ground, or they’ve been the missing piece between a project going ahead or not.
“Going into the festive season, this year’s recipients can be confident they’ll be able to continue their good work into the new year, which is a real boost. We congratulate all of this years’ recipients and look forward to seeing what is accomplished this year.”
Monsanto fund representative in Australia, Helen Maccan, said it was the cumulative impact of the grants that told the most compelling story about how they were benefiting the community.
“Education and infrastructure projects have been prioritised by nominating farmers, suggesting that these communities have a great need for funds to support projects that will be enduring in the community,” Ms Maccan said.
“What this program has achieved over the last three years is quite remarkable with large populations benefitting. Congratulations to this year’s recipients.”
