City names community grant recipients

THE City of Greater Geelong has announced 118 local clubs and organisations will share more than $690,000 in funding for from its 2022-23 community grants program.

The allocated funding ranges from $700 to $10,000 and will be used to support festivals and arts projects, community events, environmental initiatives, equipment purchases and community-based projects from groups who do “important work in our community”, Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said.

The 22 arts projects including Geelong’s Best Busker, the Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Bellarine Arts Trail and Barwon Heads Arts Council Inc will share almost $203,000 in funding.

Reggae Fest, Bantu Fest, Christmas in Lara and the Geelong Pride Film Festival are among twenty-four community events that have been allocated $110,000.

$80,000 will go towards 14 projects under the city’s Environment Sustainability grant stream, including $6,000 for the Rotary Club of Geelong’s waste reduction at the Waterfront Markets and $10,000 for the Geelong Sustainability Group’s climate community engagement program.

Almost $200,000 of funding is destined for 56 projects via the healthy and connected communities grant pool, enabling organisations such as the Portarlington Demons Football Netball Club to further work on a research publication for their 150th anniversary, and the Bellarine Bicycle Users Group Active Travel Map.

The remaining $100,000 of funding is being allocated to the shire’s climate change partnerships, a new grant round designed to work with the community to take urgent action on climate change.

“These grants will support not-for-profits, community groups and sporting clubs, giving people the opportunity to connect with their neighbours and give back to our community,” Cr Anthony Aitken said.

The chair of council’s finance portfolio said the latest round of community grants took the city’s total to $4.4 million for 2022/23.

“We want to make sure everyone feels welcome and included, which is why we’re thrilled to be supporting these 118 community projects.”