The Council has awarded more than $567,000 in funding to 120 different local clubs, groups and organisations in the first round of its 2020-2021 Community Grants program.
The grants, ranging in value from $807 to $10,000, have been awarded across four separate categories and will fund arts projects and festivals, community events, environmental sustainability projects and equipment purchases.
Successful applicants for environmental sustainability grants include Gateways Support Services, who will receive $4000 to fund water tanks for a community garden, and the Koala Clancy Foundation, whose $9000 grant will be used for revegetation of koala habitat in the You Yangs Regional Park.
Fourteen community events have received sponsorship, including the Bellarine Agricultural Show ($3000), the Geelong Half Marathon ($5000), the Geelong Eisteddfod ($5000) and the Lions Club of Lara Australia Day Breakfast ($2500).
Organisations receiving funding for arts projects or festivals include Orchestra Geelong for the creation of Geelong Youth Music ($10,000), the Geelong Lyric Theatre Society to support the Lyric Sing choir ($6400) and the Geelong Arts Centre for the Poppykettle Children's Festival ($10,000).
And a total of 64 groups and clubs have received grants for projects and equipment, including the Corio Norlane Lions Club, which will use its $5000 grant for its Community Computer Project – obtaining, upgrading and donating PCs and laptops to students and families in need. The Ocean Grove Football Netball Club will use its grant ($2000) to run a summer netball competition, while the Macedonian Community of Geelong will purchase a coffee machine and kitchen utensils for senior citizens with its funding ($1,250).
The list of successful applicants was endorsed by the Council after all applications were assessed by an independent panel and can be accessed on our grants page.
Applications for grants of up to $350,000 under the $3 million Community Infrastructure grants stream are being assessed and will be awarded in February.
The Council's total grants budget in 2020-21 is a record $5.226 million, taking into account several grants streams introduced specifically to assist in the region's COVID-19 recovery.
The City will soon announce the first round of recipients under the COVID-19 Business Recovery Grants program.
In September, 67 successful applicants shared a total of $302,341 in COVID-19 Arts, Culture and Heritage Recovery Grants, while 74 clubs or groups have benefitted from a total of $125,983 via the COVID-19 Quick Response Community Grants stream.
Mayor Stephanie Asher
Congratulations to all grants recipients.
After a very difficult year for community clubs and groups, these grants will hopefully help lift morale and provide a springboard into 2021.
The Community Grants program is an important way for the Council to support the incredible work that these largely volunteer-run organisations do to provide social, physical and creative outlets for our community.
Councillor Anthony Aitken - Chair, Finance portfolio
Council is pleased to announce the grants recipients in time for Christmas.
COVID has restricted the community's capacity to deliver on these fantastic projects, events and investments we announce today.
But with the easing of restrictions we look forward to the significant benefit these grants make to Geelong being a clever and creative community.
