Cash injections of hundreds of thousands of dollars are set to boost several community groups, including a centre for creativity.
Noosa Council has approved more than $350,000 for groups, events and projects in the first Community Grants round of 2022/23.
It includes three-year Signature, Festive season and Alliance Grants to fund a range of important projects such as an initiative by charity Sunny Kids to improve its facilities.
Amid the groups to get a boost is Noosa Arts and Crafts, which successfully applied for the community grant to replace old kilns and other equipment.
Noosa Arts and Crafts President Gabi Dick said the grant was well timed.
“Our kilns are all really old and in a bad state of disrepair,” she said.
“With COVID, parts and labour have been so hard to come by.”
The grant allows Noosa Arts and Crafts to purchase a new kiln, providing their very talented potters with more reliable equipment and create peace of mind for the users knowing what state their artwork will be in when complete.
Other grant recipients include the Pomona King of the Mountain and Noosa Trailblazers Mountain Bike Club.
Mayor Clare Stewart said a wide range of groups would benefit from the funding.
“Noosa is home to more than 300 community groups that all contribute greatly to the shire’s social capital,” Mayor Stewart said.
“We encourage not-for-profit incorporated community organisations whose activities benefit the Noosa community to apply for funding.
“Council is committed to help build a healthy, connected and engaged community and this funding is one way of supporting many local organisations that help to enrich our way of life.”
Community Development Manager, Alison Hamblin, said the grant program was designed to help organisations to continue the vital role volunteers play in our community.
“In this project grant round there’s $4,500 for community events, $113,442.33 to answer community groups’ new equipment requests and $16,373 for various other programs,” she said.
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Noosa Council has also approved $216,087 to contribute towards Signature and Festive season events as well as Alliance projects.
Festive season projects are among the biggest recipients, including Christmas in Cooroy in the hinterland, which received a $7706 grant to plan, develop and execute the annual event.
“Council is delighted to be able to invest in our community organisations and the important work they do,” Ms Hamblin said.
Council’s Community Development team was on hand to offer community groups advice on eligibility criteria and the application process.
For more information on the list of recipients and the Council’s Community Grants program, visit Council Grants – Noosa Shire.
