Central Coast Council has adopted a new community grants and sponsorship funding program for the Coast, giving the community more opportunities to apply for funding to support their community projects, events, programs and initiatives.

Council has aligned its former Gosford and Wyong sponsorship and community grants policies to create programs that will enable Council to better support and build capacity in the Central Coast community.

Council Connected Communities Group Leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the amalgamation of the two Councils provided a unique opportunity to transform the former programs into a regional suite of community grant funding and sponsorship opportunities to meet the needs of the entire community.

“Following an extensive review of the former programs, we now have a community grant and sponsorship program with a clear direction and framework to meet the community’s changing demands,” Ms Vaughan said.

“We want to hear all ideas no matter how big or small, as we want to see programs that are dynamic, responsive and targeted to support and grow local community development, sporting, environmental, tourism and economic development initiatives.

“We have created five new categories for our community grants, and some of the previous programs have been absorbed into the new ones making it easier to apply.

“It may seem like there are big changes and that’s why we are holding a number of information sessions across the Coast to help groups better understand each category and how to apply to make a project happen.”

There’s more than $1.4 million in funding available this financial year across the community grants and sponsorship program, including:

• Community Partnership Grants
• Community Development Grants
• Place Activation Grants
• Community Support Grants
• Heritage Grants
• Awarding Sponsorship Program.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the Central Coast is the only Council in the state that is also its own region, so the new program is a great opportunity to get that big idea off the ground.

“With more than $1.4 million up for grabs, as well as the Stronger Communities Fund from the State Government, there’s never been a better time to help improve the lifestyle on the Coast and put it on the map,” Mr Reynolds said.

“This is a chance to think outside the square to deliver unique, big picture project or events to the Coast that really make a difference.

“Together we can make the Central Coast the very best place it can be.”

Council information sessions on the new community grants and sponsorship funding program will be held on:

• Tuesday 8 August, 5.30-7.30pm - Central Coast Council Office, Wyong
• Thursday 10 August, 1.30-3.30pm - Gosford Smart Work Hub
• Thursday 17 August, 1.30-3.30pm - Central Coast Council Office, Wyong
• Thursday 17 August, 5.30-7.30pm - Erina Centre
• Thursday 24 August, 1.30-3.30pm - Woy Woy Library
• Friday 1 September, 1-3pm - The Entrance Community Centre
• Friday 8 September, 1-3pm - Kincumber Library
• Friday 15 September, 1-3pm – Blue Haven Community Centre

To find out more, please visit our Community Grants and Sponsorship Programs page.