Great Regional City Challenge

What is the Great Regional City Challenge?

Great Regional City Challenge (GRCC) is a local initiative that has, since 2020, helped fund 43 community projects in Launceston, Tasmania. 

Recently, in 2024, fifty five people from a cross section of the community were invited to spend a day visioning what can make Launceston one of the great cities of the world.  This resulted in a focus on four main challenges, all of which emphasise connection:

• • People and Place: Launceston will be full of healthy and happy people that are connected through a place that reflects and encourages their creativity and individuality.
  • Thriving Economy: A thriving, accessible and more sustainable/circular economy will foster communities of people to create opportunities for connection and prosperity.

• • Welcoming Visitors and Newcomers. Launceston will have a lifestyle that leverages proximity to place and food where all people are connected and belong.

• • Diverse and Inclusive:  Launceston supports and celebrates its diverse and inclusive community/s where everyone is connected, valued and empowered.

Since 2020 the Great Regional City Challenge Inc has raised over $650,000 to help these  43 projects make Launceston one of the great regional cities of the world.

But all is not well.

Our laid-back Australian lifestyle is under attack from cost-of-living stress, climate damage, religious intolerance, racism, social media fake news, immigration issues – and much more. The result? Launceston now has a crisis of widespread isolation, loneliness and despair.

In Launceston, 37% of people report feeling lonely — the highest rate in Australia.

• Loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day 
• It increases the risk of depression by 300% 
• It raises the risk of premature death by 26% 
• It costs $1,565 per person each year in lost productivity and increased health care 

This is impacting your family, your workforce, your customers, your neighbourhood and your city.

The new Challenge

From 2026 onwards the challenge is to MAKE LAUNCESTON THE MOST CONNECTED, UNITED AND HEALTHY CITY IN AUSTRALIA BY FUNDING PROJECTS THAT COMBAT ISOLATION AND LONELINESS.

Here is how:

1. Each year a call out for project ideas from the community – individuals, teams, businesses, community agencies and even government – can apply. There is no need to be a not-for-profit. 
2. The simple 200-word project applications are placed on the GRCC website and anyone across the greater Launceston region can vote for their top five favourite projects
3. Meantime, the business and wider community are encouraged to donate to fund the most popular projects.
4. The selected projects then complete a One Page Plan to show how the funds they are to be given will be spent
5. Then over a year the projects proceed only drawing down funds – as outlined in their plan – as the project proceeds. 

In 2026 fifteen projects – ranging from events, spaces to meet, an AI driven connection platform, school programs, linkers and a publicity campaign – are being voted upon until Sunday 31st May at greatregionalcity.com.au/votenow. These projects will run from 1 July, 2026 – June30, 2027

GRCC is a Place-based, People Powered Program

• End to end people power – the community is empowered from start to finish – deciding a future-focused regional vision, selecting projects and deciding the future direction based on results.
• Accessibility – Project applications are open to any individuals, community agencies or organisations in the region – with no auspicing needed.
• Trust & transparency – Projects are selected by simple online voting with all locals deciding, not a chosen selection panel.
• Accountability — Projects drawdown funds only as planned actions happen, with changes to plans and funding possible.
• Capacity building – Participants gain experience in community-led strategic planning, leadership, decision-making, and project delivery.
• Scalability – The process repeats year after year, creating a cycle of empowerment and renewal.