More than $230,000 in grants awarded to 77 applicants
June 28, 2018
The facades of eight businesses in Murray Street will be improved and another 69 community groups and events will receive funding under Colac Otway Shire’s new look Grants Program for 2018-2019.
Councillors last night approved 77 grant applications totalling $233,182. When combined with the community’s cash and in-kind contribution the successful projects total $2.35 million in value.
The Grants Program includes four categories – Community Grants, Community Events and Support, Small Grants and Building Façade Improvements.
Mayor Joe McCracken said he was pleased that 27 new applicants were among those funded. He said he was also thrilled that the new consolidated grant program would also benefit traders this year.
“The decision to revamp our grants programs into a single process earlier this year, and for it to incorporate a building façade improvement category for the first time, has delivered some great projects,” he said.
“Nearly $15,000 has been granted to eight Murray Street applicants who will complete nearly $75,000 worth of upgrades and improvements to their business frontages and that’s a great outcome.
“I look forward to seeing the results of that investment on the general amenity of Colac’s main street and to the same offer being provided to business owners in our smaller towns in future years.”
Cr McCracken said in addition to the eight Façade Improvements funded, 18 projects totalling $97,069 were successful in the Community Grants Program, $99,597 had been funded to 32 events via the Community Events and Support Program and 19 applications had received a total of $21,652 in Small Grants.
“These grants provides Colac Otway Shire with wonderful opportunities for strong partnerships with community groups, progress associations, arts and cultural groups, committees of management, sporting clubs, schools and now businesses,” he said.
Including $7400 in unallocated funds from last year, a total of $317,400 was made available to applicants in the Council’s 2018-2019 Grant Program. This has resulted in $84,218 still remaining for new eligible projects.
The bulk of that money ($68,831) remains available in the Community Grants category and Councillors agreed last night to offer a second round of applications next month.
Council will open Round 2 of the Grants Program for Category 1 Community Grants only on July 2. Further details will be available on the Council website.
It was also agreed that more than $15,000 unsubscribed in the other three categories would be made available for community requests during the 2018-2019 year – subject to meeting the funding program guidelines.
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