Council’s minor grants make a major difference to community groups

Boonah and District Cultural Foundation, who delivered the 2020 Fashion Awards (pictured), are recipients of Council's Minor Community Grants for the 2021 Boonah Arts Festival.

Scenic Rim Regional Council’s allocation of Minor Community Grants will make a major difference to grassroots organisations which help to enrich Scenic Rim communities.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said that, through the latest funding round, 18 not-for-profit organisations will share more than $60,000 for projects ranging from small items of equipment to community festivals which celebrate the region’s identity and culture.

“The Minor Community Grants Program provides funding for up to $5,000 for community groups and represents an investment in organisations which make a positive contribution to the quality of life in the Scenic Rim,” he said.

"Service, sporting, environmental, cultural, and welfare organisations are vital threads in the social fabric of our region and most rely on volunteers who give generously of their time and energy to fundraising activities that make a difference to their communities.

"Events which bring people together and grassroots volunteer organisations, which are the backbone of our towns and villages, play an important role in helping Council to achieve the goals from its Community Plan, which was shaped by our local people.

"By supporting local projects and activities, our Community Grants Program also contributes to achieving the shared Community Plan vision for the region in celebrating the Scenic Rim's relaxed living and rural lifestyle and building healthy, engaged and resourceful communities."

In 2020-2021, Council's Scenic Rim Community Grants Program was streamlined and transitioned to the Smarty Grants online grants management platform.

This has been well received by the community and Council continues to receive positive feedback from applicants who have appreciated the ease of completing grant applications online.

The Minor Community Grants Program attracted 33 applications totalling more than $120,000.

“As the program has been oversubscribed, unfortunately not all projects could be funded.

“Officers carried out a rigorous selection process to ensure the successful submissions appropriately addressed the criteria and to allocate grants which represented best value for the community,” Cr Christensen said.

Community groups and their projects which will benefit from the Minor Community Grants are:
 

Image: Boonah and District Cultural Foundation, who delivered the 2020 Fashion Awards (pictured), are recipients of Council's Minor Community Grants for the 2021 Boonah Arts Festival.