At SEGRA’s National Regional and Economic Development Summit in Lithgow last week, ACRE announced the establishment of Community Owned Australia — an Australian-first support service and fund providing the guidance, support and appropriate capital rural communities need to own, operate and sustain the assets they rely on – turning them into engines for social, economic and environmental renewal.
This initiative has been made possible through remarkable seed investment from the Paul Ramsay Foundation, AMP Foundation and the Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation.
“Community ownership is the most catalytic thing a community can do to build the know-how and confidence to own and build the foundations of their economy.”
Matt Pfahlert, ACRE CEO & Co-founder
The origins of this work stem from a 2013 Churchill Fellowship where Matt Pfahlert studied the conditions at play for rural communities to transition from decline to thriving. The common thread: combining community-led entrepreneurship with community ownership to take control of their futures.
ACRE has partnered with Plunkett UK and the Development Trusts Association of Scotland, bringing more than 25 years of international evidence, particularly from the UK and Scotland, where community ownership has supported over 1,000 communities to revitalise their local economies. This globally informed approach is now being adapted to the Australian context.
Community Owned Australia will deliver:
▪️ A Support Service – assessing community readiness and providing structured, tailored support at every stage of the ownership journey.
▪️ A Feasibility Grants Program – up to $50,000 to fund the technical groundwork.
▪️ The Rural Fund – an Australian-first: patient, concessional loan capital with up to 12-year terms, so communities can actually purchase the assets they need.
Early demand for the service is strong, with more than 40 communities already expressing interest and seeking support to progress local ownership opportunities.
“This service and fund is not only designed to solve local issues caused by market failure – like the pub that stays open because the town bought it, or the general store that survives because locals stepped in. It’s also about seizing new opportunities like an energy project that generates income and keeps it in the community. Or, it could be an affordable housing development or new childcare centre that sets a community up for a thriving future.” Matt Pfahlert, ACRE CEO & Co-founder
ACRE will continue to work with partners to refine and activate Community Owned Australia, with further details to be released in the coming months.
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