Knox City Council has awarded 64 grants to locally focused not-for-profit organisations operating in Knox, totalling $353,680, under the 2019-2020 Community Development Fund (CDF).
A further $82,000 will go towards facility and equipment upgrades for programs operating in Council facilities, through the Leisure Minor Capital Works Grant Scheme (LMCWGS).
Successful recipients attended a joint celebration event last night, where they were awarded certificates and had the chance to network with previous recipients.
With a 30 percent increase in CDF applications this year from the previous grant round, applicants reflected a broad range of community priorities including local welfare outreach initiatives and homelessness service development, equipment purchases, arts, culture and recreation events, early years play space revitalisation, activities for support groups, community and club capacity building.
Many worthy and recognisable local organisations will receive CDF grants, including Knox and District Toy Library, Knox Community Gardens Society, Knox Chinese Elderly Citizens Club, St John Ambulance Australia, Scoresby Magpies Junior Football Club, The Basin Theatre Group and many more.
Knox City Council Mayor, Cr Nicole Seymour said this year's applicants embody the values that make Knox the city that it is.
"Having opportunities to connect with people, places and spaces enhances our quality of life and makes Knox more liveable for all our residents," said Cr Seymour.
"Each of this year's Community Development Fund recipients provides a valuable service to the local community, by building a space to come together with others, to feel safe and valued, to improve their health or skills, to share their passions and to feel a sense of belonging within the city."
The annual CDF grants program supports projects that encourage residents to become involved in their local community and improve health and wellbeing by promoting healthy active lifestyles and community safety. In addition, the grants encourage activities and initiatives that build community pride, strength and resilience, promote harmony and respect, and improve skills of Knox residents across a range of areas.
Over the last five years, the CDF program has allocated approximately $1.5 million to a diverse range of community organisations in Knox, and provides valuable insight on community activity across the municipality.
The LMCWGS aims to deliver improvements to Council-owned facilities by creating partnerships between Council and community sport and leisure groups and organisations. It is an opportunity for sport and leisure groups to identify and address their priorities for improvements in Council facilities.
