Westfield ANZ owner Scentre Group has launched a new community engagement program that will seek to provide support to individuals and businesses whose work benefits their local communities.

The $1.2 million program will provide access to 117 grants across 39 Westfield centres in Australia as part of the listed-landlord’s community engagement strategy.

The program will run for six-months in 2018 and is open to all individuals in any sector, including business, government, education, sports, welfare, community and not-for-profits.

Scentre Group’s national community experience manager Pam Wilson said the program had been developed to celebrate the work of community members and the impact they’ve had on their local areas.

“It acknowledges the role Westfield living centres play in helping their local communities develop and foster positive connections, relationships and initiatives, delivering on Scentre Group’s purpose of creating extraordinary places and connecting and enriching communities. We are excited to launch next week when our call for nominations opens on April 23,” he said.

The announcement comes after Scentre Group chief Peter Allen signalled Scentre’s intention to invest more in community initiatives through new centre developments at the company’s AGM earlier this month.

“To ensure our business has a sustainable long-term future, all our actions are viewed through four lenses; being community, people, environment and discal, with an enduring responsibility to deliver growth and leave a positive legacy,” he said.

Access exclusive analysis, locked news and reports with Inside Retail Weekly. Subscribe today and get our premium print publication delivered to your door every week.