Community groups in the Rural City of Wangaratta have until Friday, 17 October to apply to Glenrowan Solar Farm’s benefit sharing program.
Established in 2023 to deliver social, environmental and economic outcomes each year to the region, the program delivered funding in its inaugural round last year for 11 community initiatives, as part of Glenrowan Solar Farm’s commitment to provide $50,000 each year, over a 10-year period to the local region.
Pacific Partnerships’ managing director Graham Whitson said the third round of the benefit sharing program will contribute a positive legacy for the local community, with the help of the project’s Community Reference Group (CRG) and local not-for-profit community auspice organisation, Into Our Hands Community Foundation.
“Together with the CRG and the Into Our Hands Community Foundation, we look forward to continuing to fund meaningful projects for the local community,” Mr Whitson said.
“Since the program started, we have granted $100,000 to 20 organisations for projects including school community gardens, landcare rehabilitation, solar panels for sporting clubs and a housing project, a community co-operative playground, household electrification and equipment repair, youth learning and employment, as well as training, arts and mentoring initiatives.
“Applications are invited for initiatives that demonstrate a direct local benefit and which support the natural environment and climate change, health and wellbeing, population growth and youth retention, training, skills and education and improving energy literacy,” he said.
Into Our Hands Community Foundation (IOHCF) executive officer Sylvie Huigen said the North East community foundation is pleased to be partnering with Glenrowan Solar Farm to administer the funding program, and share IOHCF’s grantmaking experience over 12 years to deliver more than 267 grants, worth more than $1.63 million for community organisations and projects.
“Our passion and connection to the region is at the heart of what we do – we seek to deliver meaningful outcomes and build local capacity for community organisations,” Ms Huigen said.
“Whether it’s grants for a community-based organisation to install solar panels, fund a youth program or a local tree-planting program, or any great community initiative in between we hope to see a diversity of applications,” she said.
The Glenrowan Solar Farm is a 130MWdc solar project located 2km south-west of Glenrowan that started full operation in May 2024, CIMIC company UGL operates the facility, having designed and constructed it in 2022- 2023 to supply renewable electricity to the national electricity market, generating power for approximately 55,000 Australian homes.
Glenrowan Solar Farm has developed a set of guidelines to help community groups or community-based organisations with their application and can assist community groups seeking more information, through the project website.
Find out more or make an application on the Into Our Hands Community Foundation website or email info@intoourhands.com.au.