Contact: Anne Leadbeater
Telephone: (03) 5786 1527

The Community Building Initiative (CBI) is a $10 million place-based investment which is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to strengthen small rural communities by bringing local residents together with government and community agencies to plan for and address local needs, build leadership and foster community networks. Through active participation in community planning, events and activities, CBI delivers new and improved community facilities, employs local people, and increases economic activity for small business and tourism.

On 4 October 2007, the Minister for Community Development announced the extension of the 19 CBI projects until 2010 with a further $2.8 million. The emphasis of this new funding will be on fostering sustainability as the framework to maintain the momentum of their projects and consolidation of support networks and relationships that have been established through the CBI.

In October 2007 a $2 million partnership between the Victorian Government and the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust was announced for the Macpherson Smith Community Alliance. This partnership will contribute funding towards projects identified by small rural communities involved in CBI.