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Helen Haines MP has encouraged Indi community groups to press ahead with good ideas for small capital works projects and express interest in the latest round of Stronger Communities Program grants.

The Independent Federal Member for Indi said the $150,000 programme in her electorate would provide small grants of between $2500 to $20,000 for up to 20 eligible projects.

These include construction, fit-out and upgrade costs for capital improvements at community centres, sporting facilities and parks, and emergency equipment or information and communications technology purchases and website development.

“Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations, local government and trustees responsible for community assets are eligible for these grants, targeted at community projects that support economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr Haines said.

“The last round in 2019 was very popular. Successful applicants ranged from Leneva’s Border Steam and Oil Engine Club, granted $2850 to help buy a rainwater tank, to Murrindindi Shire’s Whittlesea Community Connections, granted $11,910 towards the cost of a car for its L2P driver-training project.”

Dr Haines said she expected more interest in this round as increased funding per project was on offer, and her free grants workshops had equipped community groups to apply for and win grants.

“In this round, up to 100 per cent of costs will be paid for approved community group projects, while approved local government projects will receive up to 50 per cent of costs,” she said.

“The grant writing workshops I hosted last year demonstrated that Indi community organisations, not-for-profits and businesses are hungry for information and skills that equip them to make the best possible applications.

“Almost 900 people took part in four workshops and many more have since made use of how-to guides and instructive videos on my website and my Indi Funding Finder, an online portal that gives people and groups across Indi free access to information on the widest range of available grants.”

Dr Haines said she would work with a committee of local government and community group representatives to assess the expressions of interest.

“With the input of this group, I will nominate the eligible projects,” she said.

“Successful proponents will then be invited to apply for a grant. The final decision about applications to be funded will be made by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.”

Dr Haines said interested groups could download an expression of interest form below or email helen.haines.mp@aph.gov.au to receive the form, funding guidelines, and project eligibility information.

Completed expressions of interest must be received no later than 5pm on February 26, 2021, by:

Information sheet

Expression of interest form

Stronger Communities Programme – Round 6 | business.gov.au

You can also discover more information about grant resources at www.helenhaines.org/resources/grants.

IMAGE: With members of Leneva’s Border Steam and Oil Engine Club, granted $2850 in the Stronger Communities Programme fifth round in 2019 to help buy a tank to hold rainwater for use in engines and by the Leneva Country Fire Authority brigade.

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