City of Parramatta Council is helping local not-for-profits, community groups, social enterprises, creative organisations and sports clubs bounce back from the challenges presented by COVID-19 and improve their services with the launch of its 2021 Community Grants program.
The annual grants program aims to support services and activities that enhance the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the Parramatta community.
"The pandemic has impacted us all in one way or another, but our local community groups and services have been instrumental in helping us through a particularly difficult year," City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.
"Last year, Council presented 36 Community Resilience Grants, totalling just over $380,000, to various local organisations such as the Hindu Council of Australia, Jesuit Refugee Service, and Parramatta Women's Shelter to help them adapt during the pandemic. In 2021, we are offering an even larger funding pool of $400,000, so I encourage any eligible community groups, cultural and creative organisations, sports clubs and social enterprises to apply.
"These groups are the definition of community - they continually serve and support their neighbours through good times and bad. Now it's our turn to help them - and our annual Community Grants program is one way we're doing that," Cr Dwyer said.
Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 across the following five categories: Community Capacity Building, Creative Fellowship Fund, Creative Project Leveraging, Growing Social Enterprise in Parramatta, and Cultural Heritage and Research Fund. Funding can be used to develop projects and resources, build internal capacity, or buy essential materials.
Applications close at 11.59PM on Monday 22 February.
