Borough grants now open

NON-profit community groups, organisations, sports clubs, and schools in Eaglehawk are being invited to apply for grants for projects and equipment through a local foundation.

Empowering Eaglehawk has provided funding for a combined total of about $1 million since it first partnered with Bendigo Bank in 2006.

The group’s president Mitchell Graham said Empowering Eaglehawk has recently simplified the application process and wants to get the word out so that the community may benefit from what the foundation has to offer.

“These grants allow the community groups to make that project a reality and be able to build on what they want to achieve,” he said.

“The referral process is one that we take pride on, to make us sustainable.

“Through the commission, we get through for the Bendigo Bank and Bendigo Telco, we are provided funds that we can distribute into the community, as long as they give back to us in terms of a referral or an account.”

There are no costs involved in linking an account to the organisation they would like to support through Empowering Eaglehawk.

“Any account that you have with either Bendigo Bank or Bendigo Telco they put into a pool of funds which then they distribute to the local enterprises around Victoria,” Mr Graham said.

The group also receives some funding at different points of the year through schemes such as IGA Rewards and donations.

As well as providing grants, Empowering Eaglehawk sponsors community events such as Eaglehawk Family Day and the Children’s Festival.

“For 2023-24 we’re probably looking at hopefully getting over that $50,000 mark again,” said Mr Graham.

“And continue building on what our community group has been able to achieve over a two-year period, from the COVID times back into reality.

“The most important thing is that we continue getting those grants through and keep groups applying, and making that process simpler for those groups that are applying.”

To be eligible for a grant, non-profits need to have an ABN and be in the 3556 postcode area, and for grants under $10,000 groups need to have at least 10 referrals.