Sixty-nine projects will share more than $823,000 in funding to hold community events and programs after Central Coast Council last night voted to allocate funds from its annual Sponsorship and Grants Program.

Basketball, bowls and surfing competitions, along with equine and comedy festivals are just some of the programs which will receive a total of $142,000 through the sponsorship budget, which supports activities which bring economic benefits to the region.

Meanwhile, Council approved a diverse range of applications submitted through the following grant programs:

Community Events and Place Activation ($158,697.23)

Community Development ($187,959.70)

Community Infrastructure ($107,367)

Social and Creative Enterprise ($114,675.58)

Heritage ($102,779.65)

Community Support ($15,000).

Council budgeted $1.78million for its 2018-19 Sponsorship and Grant Program. Most categories open for new funding applications twice each year, while some smaller categories accept applications throughout the year.

Most of the funding awarded last night will go to organisations which applied in the Program’s first round of applications in September and October. A second funding round will open from mid-January and run throughout February.

Mayor Jane Smith said the Community Grants and Sponsorship Program offers fantastic opportunities to not only improve the lifestyle of Coast residents but to promote the region as a great place to visit.

“I am pleased to see so many diverse organisations accessing grant funding to run events and programs or to improve or preserve equipment and buildings,” Mayor Smith said.

“These grants are being given to organisations and volunteers who provide services to many different groups across our population,” Mayor Smith said.

“Council’s funding creates strong connections within the community.”

For more information about Council’s Sponsorship and Grants Program, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/funding.

Projects funded by the Sponsorship and Grants Program

Sponsorship Program:

• Gosford City Sports Stadium - Waratah Senior Leagues Finals (NSW titles basketball) 2019, $7,500
• Bowls Australia - Australian Sides Championship 2019, $9,500.
• Central Coast Academy of Sport - Annual Sports Development Programs 2019-2021, $40,000.
• Surfing NSW - Central Coast Pro, $34,250.
• Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures - Horses Birthday Festival, $15,000.
• Arabian Horse Society of Australia - World Arabian Horse Organisation International Conference, $10,000.
• Regional Youth Support Services - Comicon 2019-2021, $25,750.

Community Events and Place Activation Grant Program:

• Central Coast Potters Society – Significant: Celebrating the Central Coast Potters Society Ceramic Collections, $9,403.75.
• Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation (The Glen) - Central Coast Family Fun Day, $2,000.
• San Remo Neighbourhood Centre - GOATS Family Festival, $14,300.
• Australian Health & Nutrition Association - Central Coast Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon, $13,065.
• Eastcoast Foods & Beverages - Day on the farm, $5,055.
• Spencer Community Progress Group - event signage, Spencer Cup Riverside Markets, $2,289.83.
• Language Festival Association - Central Coast Language Festival, $1,100.
• Lighthouse Church - Central Coast Doylo Summerfest Carols, $4,455.
• Dooralong Community Reserve Trust - Dooralong Harvest Festival Showcase "Country Wise", $9,060.
• Copacabana Community Association - Copa Community Carols, $3,000.
• Gosford District Garden Competition - $8,741.
• Gosford Race Club - New Year Eve Family Raceday, $10,000.
• Wyong District Garden Competition, $6,566.45.
• Cancer Council NSW – Central Coast Carols, $18,000.
• Gosford Sailing Club - NSW Australian International Optimist Dinghy State Titles Regatta, $6,450.
• Narara Eco Living Network - Mad About Dirt, $9,900.
• 5 Lands Walk - HOME- A Place of Belonging, $20,000.
• Kincumber Rotary Club - Shipbuilders Historical Walk, $15,311.20.

Community Development Grant Program:

• The Opportunity Collective - Central Coast Career Women’s Mentoring Program, $24,000.
• Regional Youth Support Services - Youth Theatre Makers, The Youth Arts Warehouse, $13,000.
• Tuggerah Lakes District Band - Tuggerah Lakes Beginner Concert Band, $19,128.
• Royal Life Saving NSW - Learn to Swim Program 4 Kids Who Miss Out, $12,350.
• Long Jetty and District Senior Citizens Club - computer equipment, $3,300.
• Musicians Making A Difference - MMAD Music and Dance Mentoring Initiative: Streets to the Stage, $25,760.
• Gosford Regional Community Services - Think Personal Act Local, $8,620.
• Kariong Neighbourhood Centre - Connecting community through creative industries, $15,720.
• The Fathers Table - The Fathers Table Outreach, $4,680.
• Australian Air League - Central Coast Air League Marching Band, $18,258.25.
• Educar Foundation - Central Coast Max Potential, $19,316.
• Central Coast Roller Derby United - Introduction to roller derby courses, $7,297.95.
• NSW Justices Association Inc. Central Coast Branch - three more community NSWJA JP Desks for Central Coast, $1,670.50.
• Umina Community Group - Creating Showcase Streets for Urban Shade, $5,359.
• SparkCC - Makerspace laser cutter, $9,500.

Community Infrastructure Grant Program:

• Kariong Progress Association - solar panels, $7,544.
• Brisbane Water Historical Society - Museum infrastructure upgrade, $17,759.
• Gosford City Sports Stadium - Refurbishment of office space, $31,018.
• Central Coast Hockey Association - New electronic scoreboards, $9,860.
• Norah Head Surfing Fraternity - Storage shed upgrade to provide community training facilities, $31,186.
• Peninsula Community Men's Shed - Supply and installation of dust extraction ducting, $10,000.

Social and Creative Enterprise Grant Program:

• Regional Youth Support Services - Digital Media Makers Youth Film Enterprise, $13,500.
• Pamela Johnson - Portable papermaking studio, mental health enterprise, $7,825.38.
• Volunteering Central Coast - Creative Re-engaged Enterprising Women (CREW), $11,100.
• Will Small - Word on the Street: The Untold Stories of Coastal Citizens, $19,800.
• Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation - The Glen Art, $8,000.
• Central Coast Women Moving Forward, $19,966.
• Central Coast Sustainability Cluster, $15,150.
• Phil Moore - A Voyage To Arcturus, $19,334.20.

Heritage Grant Program:

• Dynasty of Butchers and their path to Woy Woy, $3,718.
• Old Killcare store, $8,875.
• Mangrove Mountain Hall, $8,114.85
• Manager’s Cottage, Narara Eco Village, $9,490.
• Patonga War Memorial, $10,000.
• Thelma bungalow, Long Jetty, $7,425.
• Valley View heritage house, $10,000
• Henry Kendall Cottage and Historical Museum, $9,020.
• Davistown Progress Hall, $10,000.
• Holy Cross Church, $9,200.
• Pearl Beach Progress Association oral history project, $7,036.80.
• Gosford Living Histories: First Contact, $9,900.

Community Support Grant Program:

• China Australia Friendship Association – Central Coast Multicultural Showcase, $5,000.
• Gosford Showground Land Manager – Central Coast Regional Show, $5,000.
• Central Coast Group Training – awards night, $5,000.