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2 Jul 2021

Get your applications ready: $280m Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program to open end of July

Supporting South Australian communities impacted by the Black Summer bushfires

South Australian communities affected by the 2019-20 bushfires will have the opportunity to receive a share of the Australian Government’s $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program to support ongoing recovery efforts.

The Australian Government has today released guidelines for the grants program, which will officially open for applications later this month.

Coordinator-General for the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, the Hon Shane L Stone AC QC said the grants are for projects that boost community recovery and at the same time help minimise the impact of future natural disasters.

“We know it takes time for communities to move forward after a disaster, and the impact of the Black Summer bushfires is still deeply felt,” Mr Stone said.

“True to my agency’s guiding principle of ‘locally led, locally understood and locally implemented’, we have designed this program to be as simple and flexible as possible, so recovering communities to can develop local projects that make sense to them.”

Grants can range from $20,000 to $10 million and are open to community organisations, businesses and councils in Local Government Areas that were disaster-declared as a result of the 2019-20 bushfires.

Senator for South Australia Andrew McLachlan encouraged local community groups and organisations to apply or reach out to learn more about the available workshops to assist applicants.

“This program is an excellent opportunity for our communities to identify and invest in recovery and resilience, through projects that address the social, economic or built environment needs of the community,” Senator McLachlan said.

“I encourage people residing in either the Adelaide Hills or on Kangaroo Island to look at the guidelines, consider the needs of the community and start planning their projects.

“These individuals know their local area best, so there is a real opportunity here to unite their communities and bring some meaningful projects to fruition.”

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud MP said bushfire recovery is still front and centre for the Australian Government.

“The Government has committed more than $2 billion to bushfire recovery support, but we know disaster recovery is a long haul. These grants will help communities continue their bushfire recovery journey.

“There is money earmarked for every eligible Local Government Area, with bigger funding envelopes for the areas that were hardest hit,” Minister Littleproud said.

Applications open 22 July 2021 and close on 2 September 2021.

Workshops to assist applicants with the grant process will be available in person and online from mid-July.

The Black Summer Bushfire Grants program is part of the National Bushfire Recovery Fund. The National Recovery and Resilience Agency administers the grants. For more information and workshop details visit recovery.gov.au/black-summer-grants.

Guidelines and the preview application form are available from the Business Grants Hub at https://business.gov.au/bsbr

Media contact: Lauren Adcock | 0468 463 905

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