APPLICATIONS for community development grants are open to organisations in the City of Whittlesea.
The grants help improve the quality of life for residents in the municipality while providing financial backing to many groups that fall between the cracks of state and federal funding.
Eligible projects could receive up to $5000.
New and emerging groups can apply for one-off grants of up to $1000 to get started.
Whittlesea mayor Rex Griffin said the grants were an important way for the council to recognise community efforts.
“The groups want to have someone to believe in what they’re doing,” he said.
“We believe if it’s something that can run and get more people involved, and keep involved for years to come, then that’s what it’s about.” The amount the council will allocate to the grant scheme won’t be confirmed until its budget is adopted in July.
Last year $130,000 was allocated to the 2012-13 community grants.
Thomastown Neighbourhood House manager Justine Sless said the grants were “absolutely critical”.
“It’s a great way, at a local level, for groups to be responding to what their community needs.
It can be quite empowering and there’s lots of support,” she said.
The Thomastown Neighbourhood House received a $4750 grant last year to run an Amazing Race Family Day.
More than 1000 people attended the event in March.
“If we had not had this grant we couldn’t have run such an event,” Ms Sless s aid.
Grant applications close on May 20. Applications are available from the council website: www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au Information: 9404 8836
