Council’s 2017/18 Community Funding Program opens soon

Febrary 23, 2017

Applications for Colac Otway Shire Council’s 2017/18 Community Funding Program and Festival and Events Support Scheme (FESS) open on Monday 27 February.

Council endorsed a total of $145,000 in funding to be available this year for the Community Funding Program, subject to budget deliberations.

The Festival and Event Support Scheme (FESS) is also soon to open for applications, with Council endorsing $75,000 to the 2017/18 scheme, subject to budget deliberations.

Introduced in 2007, the FESS ensures that the local community event organisers can apply for funding to support their events which attract limited funding opportunities from State or Federal Governments.

Mayor Chris Potter encouraged clubs and community groups to submit applications for the Community Funding Program and/or the FESS.

“The Community Funding Program and the Festival and Event Support Scheme provide excellent opportunities to apply for funding for projects which enhance our community and the overall liveability of the shire,” he said.

“They’re an extremely important way for Council to support community projects, the arts and recreation in our community.”

Last year, across the four categories in the Community Funding Program – Small Equipment and Training, Recreation Facilities, Community Projects and COPACC Hire Assistance – a total of 68 projects received funding from Colac Otway Shire. Another 31 FESS projects were successfully funded for 2016/17.

“We were pleased to be able to support great local projects such as $5,000 towards a roof replacement at Carlisle River Hall, $5,000 towards two horses for riding lessons at Colac & District’s Riding for the Disabled, Beeac Tennis Club received $1,025 in funding to construct a small equipment shed, and $1,930 for the Colac Players to put on a theatre production at COPACC,” the Mayor said.

“The schemes enable clubs and community groups to carry out improvements to facilities, or initiate events, programs and activities, which otherwise might not receive funding from state or federal government sources,” he said.

“It’s also an opportunity to reward and thank the many community members who provide recreation opportunities in the shire.

“Each year we receive a large number of applications and I encourage all potential applicants to start planning now if they want to submit a funding application,” he said.

Information sessions for the Community Funding Program and Festival and Event Support Scheme will take place in Colac and Apollo Bay in early March to discuss funding criteria, the application process and relevant requirements with officers.

Application forms and funding guidelines will be available at Council’s customer service centres in Colac and Apollo Bay, and on Council’s website www.colacotway.vic.gov.au from 27 February, 2017.

For further information on the Community Funding Program, please contact Recreation and Open Space Coordinator, Nicole Frampton (03) 5232 9598 or for the Festival and Events Scheme contact Vicki Jeffrey on 5232 9516.

Applications close Monday 10 April, 2017. Funding announcements will be made at a civic reception in July 2017.

Council Enquiries

(03) 5232 9400    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.