Alexandrina Council and the City of Victor Harbor have opened their annual community grants programs for applications.

Local environmental groups, sporting clubs, community organisations, and heritage projects are invited to apply for a share of $125,000 in grants now available through Alexandrina Council.

There are four different funding streams for eligible applicants:

• Community Environment Grant (funding pool $20,000 with grants of up to $4,000 available).
• Community Events Grant (funding pool of $20,000 with grants of up to $2,500 available)
• Community Wellbeing Grant (funding pool of $65,000 over four different streams with grants of up to $5,000 available).
• Heritage Grant (funding pool of $20,000 with grants of up to $2,500 available).

Potential applicants have six weeks to work on their project ideas with applications closing on 26 August. For more information go to the Alexandrina Council website.

City of Victor Harbor community grants are available to groups or individuals in three areas:

• Support for professional development in areas such as sports, the arts, academia or community participation and leadership.
• Assistance for new and ongoing project delivery for community groups and not-for-profit organisations.
• Support for the recognition and celebration of volunteers.

Applications are open until 6 August; application forms, eligibility and selection criteria can be found on the council website. 

Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes says there are so many clubs, groups and organisations delivering innovative programs and much-needed projects in the local community.

“Council wants to support them in their efforts to make our region more liveable, green and connected,” he says.

“Our grants also help our endeavours to meet the actions in our Heritage Strategy and Action Plan, our Environmental Action Plan, and our Community Wellbeing Action Plan.

“Last year our environment, community wellbeing and business initiative grants alone assisted 26 local businesses, clubs and organisations with a range of initiatives including ‘come and try’ lawn bowls, public art mural projects, biodiversity initiatives, heritage building restoration and a community resilience building presentation.

“This year we’ve streamlined our Grants Program, offering four categories in July and then three other categories later this year or early 2025.

“Each of the grant categories offered aims to both support the community with their project ideas and assist in achieving Council’s strategic objectives.

“Within the Community Wellbeing Grant, four different funding streams are offered to provide financial assistance with a range of community projects including Active and Healthy; Connected and Inclusive; Vibrant and Artistic; Places and Spaces.

“This will enable us to support a wide variety of community endeavours including sport, the arts, community facilities, health, and wellbeing.

“We will be offering a Small Grants Program from October onwards to provide financial support to individuals and community groups for a wide range of project types and endeavours up to the value of $1,000.

“Then in early 2025, applications will open for the Business Initiative Grants program and our new Community Choice Grants, which will see community groups pitch their project ideas to their peers.

“I encourage all our community groups and organisations to investigate our 2024-25 Grant Program.