Budget provides boost in community grants

Published: 23 Jun 2021

Council's new budget provides for $700,000 in community grants, including a COVID-19 hardship grant for not-for-profit sporting and community groups.

Hardship grants were first offered this year as part of council’s COVID recovery response and are again available in 2021-2022 as part of a new grants policy.

The revised policy was adopted at an ordinary meeting today before the Budget meeting.

Deputy Mayor Karen May said the COVID-19 Hardship Grant, of up to $2000, would be available to local community and sporting groups impacted by the pandemic.

She said the application process would be simple, with approvals delegated to the CEO.

“Applicants would just need to show hardship caused by COVID-19 through the provision of treasurers’ reports for the last two financial years.”

Cr May said as part of the new policy, a Small Equipment Grant had been separated out of the Community Grants to be its own grant program.

“That grant is available for not-for-profits to seek funds to purchase items up to $1500, such as computers, office equipment and kitchen appliances,’’ she said.

Cr May said council’s Community Grants would again be offered in 2021-2022 in three categories, including Community Grant, Minor Infrastructure and Minor Assets.

She said council always received many applications for its Community Grants each year as they provided invaluable financial assistance for not-for-profit sporting and community groups.

“It is wonderful that we can offer $700,000 in Community Grants as part of the new budget.”

Council has also allocated another $1 million for its Invest Mackay Events and Conference Attraction Program.

“This funding initiative has been extremely successful in recent years in attracting events and conferences of state, national and even international significance to our region,’’ Cr May said.

“That in turn provides an economic boost for our region, especially for the accommodation, food and tourism providers,” she said.