Ash Bolt
More than $730,000 will be given to 135 community groups, clubs and organisations through the City of Greater Geelong’s 2021-22 Community Grants program.
Behind closed doors at last week’s council meeting, councillors voted to award $731,840 in grants – ranging from $260 to $10,000 – to support arts projects and festivals, community events, environmental sustainability initiatives, equipment purchases and community-based projects.
Mayor Stephanie Asher said the grants were a vital way for the council to assist community groups who made a huge contribution to Greater Geelong.
“Most of the clubs and groups we support through the grants program are volunteer-led, and they almost always run on a very tight budget,” she said.
“We hope these grants will relieve some financial pressure, and help the recipients continue making a positive difference in our community.”
Among the grant recipients was the East Geelong Little Athletics Club, which received a $1860 grant to buy discuses, hurdles, shot puts, a rake, agility equipment and an equipment trolley.
Club president Kylie Harris said she was overjoyed for the club’s 47 little athletes who would benefit from the funding.
“As the smallest club of the Geelong Little Athletics Centre I want to establish East Geelong as a club that can provide team training with proper equipment – something we have been unable to do since I took over the club two years ago,” Ms Harris said.
“With the purchase of this equipment the kids will be able to not only do running but also learn warm-up skills and practice for field events, and the best thing is that it will help build confidence in a fun team environment.”
Among the 135 grants, there were 36 for community events, including the Bellarine Agricultural Show ($3000) and the Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show ($5760).
Thirty-two of the grants were for community projects such as the Greater Geelong Skate Park Activation Project, which received $10,000, and 26 grants allowed community groups and clubs to purchase much-needed equipment.
Twenty-five of the grants were dedicated to the arts, with 17 projects and eight festivals receiving funding.
The last 16 grants were awarded to environmental sustainability projects, with the Geelong Sustainability Group’s 100 per cent Electric Vehicle Project receiving $10,000.
City finance portfolio chairman Anthony Aitken said there were further grants still available.
“Our major grants of up to $350,000, which help fund new community facilities, will be awarded before the end of the year, as will our Geelong Heritage and First Nations Cultural Heritage grants,” Cr Aitken said.
“We have also just allocated an extra $590,000 for a new round of COVID recovery grants for the arts, community groups and events.
“So the council absolutely recognises the importance of grants in terms of supporting community-based groups, and we continue to heavily fund the program through our annual budget.”
A full list of recipients of 2021-22 community grants is available at geelongaustralia.com.au/grants.
