Changes Proposed to Improve Griffith Community Grant Program
Friday August 1, 2014
Changes have been proposed to Griffith City Council’s ‘Community Grant Program’ to maximise the pool of available funds and ensure they are directed to the areas of greatest need in the community.
The proposed changes resulted from a recent review of Council’s funding assistance to the community to determine ways to better implement the program, explained Councillor Anne Napoli, chair of Council’s Communities Committee.
“The draft policy now includes measures to help Council maximise available funds, streamline the application process, and ensure money is allocated to the areas of greatest need,” Councillor Napoli said. “Council’s previous allocation of funds was administered under various policies restricted to specific requests. According to the proposed changes, funds will now be pooled under the new draft policy, allowing for a wide range of applications requesting funding assistance.”
The application process for grants would be streamlined with two rounds of grants to be available in each calendar year and expressions of interest from community organisations to be advertised. Transparency of the grant process would also be enhanced with members of the Communities Committee being asked to assess grant applications and make recommendations for successful applications to Council.
“The members of our committee represent the diversity of the community and bring to the table a wealth of knowledge and commitment to improving community wellbeing. Their involvement in the process will be invaluable and serve only to improve the program,” Cr Napoli concluded.
The draft ‘Community Grant Program’ may be viewed at the Customer Service Centre in Council’s Administration Building at 1 Benerembah Street Griffith, between 8:15am and 4pm Monday to Friday. It is also available at the Griffith City Library and on Council's website at http://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-PEK-04-88-50.
Written submissions regarding the draft policy should be made to the General Manager, Griffith City Council, PO Box 485, Griffith NSW 2680, and will be received up until 4pm on Friday August 15, 2014. For further information please contact Council’s Community Development Coordinator Peta Dummett at 6962 8100.
