Community Grants Program returns

By Lachlan Ellis

Moorabool Shire Council’s Community Grants Program is opening for a new 2023 round, with more than a quarter of a million dollars on offer for community groups this year.

Past projects supported through the Community Grants Program include the Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance’s Platypus Mural at the Bacchus Marsh swimming pool, the Stage is Yours Central Highlands series of open mic events, the Blackwood and Barry’s Reef Landcare series of workshops, and the Navigators Tennis Club expansion project.

Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Rod Ward encouraged the many worthy groups and individuals across Moorabool to apply.

“There are so many community groups and individuals working on wonderful projects throughout our shire – projects that are improving the lives of young people, old people, disadvantaged communities just to name a few. Our grants program is invaluable to these groups to enable them to do this important work, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the process and see how grant funding is spent and the difference it makes,” he said.

“I encourage anyone involved in a community group or project who thinks they might qualify for a community grant to check out our website to read through the requirements and have a chat to our community development team, so we can continue to fund this great work.”

Two online Community Grant Writing Workshops will be held from 6 pm – 7 pm on Thursday 23 February and Wednesday 1 March, as well as drop-in sessions on Monday 6 March at the Ballan Council Offices and Thursday 9 March at the Lerderderg Library, both from 8.30 am to 5 pm.

Applications open on 1 March, and close on 31 March. Applications can be worked on and saved in the online portal up until the 31 March deadline.

Submitted applications are assessed for eligibility and scored against criteria by a panel of Council officers representing a range of different departments, with the final outcomes to be presented to Council for endorsement at the June Ordinary Meeting of Council.

For more information, head to www.moorabool.vic.gov.au and search community grants, or contact the Community Development team on 5366 7100 or [email protected].
The March Round is the first round of funding for 2023, with another round opening in August.