Community foundation Give Where You Live has announced nearly half a million dollars in support for local organisations through its latest round of grants.
Give Where You Live has distributed more than $495,000 to 23 grant recipients who are working to create a fairer community in the Geelong region.
One of those grant recipients is Neighbourhood Economics, a new initiative focused on building inclusive economic opportunities in places of entrenched disadvantage.
Headed by former Give Where You Live chief executive BIll Mithen and former The Difference Incubator boss Annie Smits, Neighbourhood Economics will receive $100,000 per year from 2025 to 2027.
Give Where You Live chief executive Zac Lewis said the foundation was focused on supporting initiatives like Neighbourhood Economics that were addressing urgent need in the community.
“We know that our current economic systems are not serving all people or all places well,” Mr Lewis said.
“In the Geelong region, there are some neighbourhoods where people are facing higher rates of unemployment, and struggling with food and housing,” Mr Lewis said.
“The foundation is delighted to support the delivery of Neighbourhood Economics and its focus on new, inclusive economic opportunities, community prosperity and strong community connections.”
Ms Smits said the postcode you were born in should not be the biggest predictor of success.
““We want to reimagine local neighbourhood economies where prosperity has not been equally shared,” she said.
“A fair economy isn’t impossible, it’s overdue.”
Other grant recipients include Geelong multicultural organisation Cultura, Geelong Foodshare, The Good Neighbourhood Project, Whittington Neighbourhood House and Drysdale Family Support.
This week the foundation also announced a new partnership with GeelongPort, who have come on board as a Silver Donor.
GeelongPort chief Brett Winter said “supporting the foundation means supporting our local community”.
“Supporting the Foundation means supporting our local community. Working together we can address the pressing issues of food insecurity and help those who need it most,” he said.
“We are particularly passionate about supporting people in the suburbs in the north of Geelong where the port is based. Through this collaboration we hope to make tangible differences to the lives of people in Norlane, Corio and North Shore.”
