18 Mar 2016 Pyrenees Advocate, Pyrenees VIC (General News) The State Government has announced arrangements for the Regional Futures Summit a new initiative to influence and drive population growth in regional and rural Victoria. The Summit will be held in Bendigo on July 20 and will bring together demographers, academics, community leaders, government, industry, education and health providers to shape new regional population strategies. Regional Futures will influence priorities for the Governments $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJ1F) as well as the work plans for the nine new regional partnerships. Speaking in Marysville, Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes announced the conference to the states 38 rural councils at their annual summit. The rural councils, as an organisation, will be administered by Pyrenees Shire Council from the shires Beaufort headquarters. The announcement builds on the Governments Stronger Rural Councils initiative a $3.5million commitment to rural councils to support and promote sustainable, liveable and prosperous regional communities. Held over two days Regional Futures will bring together the minds and hearts which will influence population growth, whether its in fast growing regional cities, tree or seachange communities or smaller rural areas. Victorias rural and regional councils will be invited to bring their experience and ideas to the summit in order to help shape the future of our regions. Copyright Agency licensed copy (www.copyright.com.au