LEARN Local organisations in northern Victoria are encouraged to apply to share in $2 million in Andrews Labor Government funding. The Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board has launched its latest Capacity and Innovation funding round with applications closing on December 15. Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes said funding is available for projects that build organisational capacity, drive innovation and contribute towards improvements in learner engagement, participation and attainment. Projects can last for up to 18 months. Each year, Victorias more than 300 Learn Local organisations help in excess of 50,000 Victorians develop new skills, pursue their goals of getting work or going on to further education. Ms Symes said without Learn Local organisations some Northern Victoria locals would struggle to get the skills they need for work. Learn Locals do a fantastic job providing pre-accredited training which helps people from all backgrounds get the skills they need to find a job or move onto further training, Ms Symes said. I encourage all Learn Local Organisations in the Northern Victoria electorate to apply for this funding so they can deliver even more programs to locals. These grants will ensure Learn Local organisations in country Victoria have the funding the need to help our community. Victoria is transforming into the Education State through a range of initiatives including funding for pre-accredited training through the ACFE Board will increase by nearly $2 million in 2016. The independent VET Funding Review, is developing a more sustainable and stable funding model to better meet the skills needs of Victorians for the long-term and the opening of skills and jobs centres . The centres are one-stop-shops for students looking to start training, workers needing to reskill and unemployed workers needing support for retraining. Successful applicants will be notified in April 2016, to find your nearest Learn Local, go to http://learnlocal.org.au/find-a-learn-local/ .