Nutrien Ag Solutions delivers $250,000 into regional Australian communities

Nutrien Ag Solutions and FRRR (Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal) have today announced the 59 recipients of the 2024 Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants Program, with over $1 million invested in remote, rural or regional communities through the program over the past four years.

The 2024 not-for-profit (NFP) recipients will receive a share of $250,000 for projects that will contribute to the success, vibrancy and wellbeing of their communities. Grants have been awarded in every state and each of the projects supported will receive up to $5,000.

Successful projects in the Back Country include:

• Toganmain Woolshed Precinct (Coleambally) for sub division fencing to protect the historic Toganmain Woolshed from roaming cattle and improve safety for volunteers and visitors.

• Red Dust and Paddy Melons Community Gallery (Hillston) to support vibrancy by contributing to the restoration of the gallery building.

• Wanaaring P&C Association's library project to install an air conditioner in the school library.

• Tilpa Community Committee's garden project, to purchase a lawn mower to help maintain the village's only park.

• Support to Hay Services Club, to improve community facilities with audio visual technology to support local events, community meeting and educational workshops.

This is the fourth round of the annual Nutrien Ag Solutions Community Grants program, which aims to strengthen resilience and sustainability and contribute toward long-term positive social and environmental outcomes.

Mady Muirhead, Corporate Affairs Advisor at Nutrien Ag Solutions, said that it’s wonderful to be able to support so many of the places where the Nutrien staff live and work.

“The nature of our business means that most of our staff live and work in small communities across remote, rural and regional Australia. We love seeing our branch staff making sure that their community know about the grants, and we often find that they also get involved in projects like working bees or events. By supporting the grassroots organisations that are the heartbeat of these communities, we know that we are contributing to the success, wellbeing and vibrancy of these places that our people call home,” Ms Muirhead said.

FRRR’s Place Portfolio Lead, Jill Karena, said that the partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions means that community groups, especially in smaller, more remote locations, can access the funding they need to create vibrant and sustainable communities.

“Small rural communities – especially those with fewer than 500 people - find it hard to raise the funds to deliver key activities, so we are grateful for our partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions, as it means that we can help local not for profit groups in these communities to continue to function and deliver critical services and activities.

“Like all of us, these volunteer-led organisations are also feeling the increases in the cost of living, so we’re pleased that a significant tranche of funding has gone toward helping to sustain local community organisations and to host events that both bring the community together and raise vital funds for key local projects.

“As in previous rounds, the most common requests were for funding to support infrastructure and equipment. Many community facilities, which are critical to sustaining social cohesion, are deteriorating as government funding declines, so these grants will help to maintain and enhance these important local meeting places and help create vibrant, resilient communities,” Ms Karena said.