Funding worth a total of $4,021,732 has been awarded to 155 applicants in the latest round of community grants endorsed by Council.
The latest round of funding included nine programs: Arts Projects, Clean Economy, Climate Change Partnerships, Community Events, Community Infrastructure, Creative Commissions, Environmental Sustainability, Geelong Heritage, and Healthy and Connected Communities.
There was a very high standard of grant applications this year, with a total of $14,669,742 in funding requested.
Across the grant categories:
- Arts Projects saw 13 successful applicants receiving $116,285 in funding
- Clean Economy saw two successful applicants receiving $48,400 in funding
- Climate Change Partnership saw six successful applicants receiving $180,000 in funding
- Community Events Grants saw 30 successful applicants receiving $179,750 in funding
- Community Infrastructure saw 27 successful applicants receiving $2,999,002 in funding
- Creative Commissions saw four successful applicants receiving $65,000 in funding
- Environmental Sustainability saw 11 successful applicants receiving $70,030 in funding
- Geelong Heritage saw four successful applicants receiving $100,000 in funding
- Healthy & Connected Communities saw 58 successful applicants receiving $263,265 in funding.
Just some of the successful 155 applicants include:
- Norlane Community Initiatives will receive funding to develop a volunteer strategy for sustaining community meals in Norlane, improving food security, social connections, and active participation.
- Platform Arts will receive funding to create A People's Guide to (North) Geelong.
- Bluebird Foundation will receive funding for 'Birds, Horses and Midnight Blues', which will explore the magical connection between literature and music with performances by Ensemble NORTH in Geelong libraries for Book Week 2025.
- Ocean Grove Film Society will receive funding to establish a monthly film society for Ocean Grove and surrounds, to increase community connection, and to provide access to films in an inclusive environment.
- Geelong West Neighbourhood House will receive funding to support presentations from local health experts around healthy ageing.
- Funding for the Winter Lights Festival in Labuan Square.
- Rotary Club Highton will receive funding for nature strip transformations.
- Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare will receive funding to help understand, improve and protect the biodiversity of the Clifton Springs Curlewis foreshore and waterways.
- Drysdale Clifton Springs Pickleball Club will receive funding to support planning for eight outdoor, tournament standard, pickleball courts, including Improvements to shade and wind protection.
- Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail will receive funding for the construction of a storage shed for tools used at working bees along the Bellarine Rail Trail.
- Geelong BMX Club will receive funding for the implementation of sport lighting for the BMX track at Grinter Reserve.
An independent Community Assessment Panel comprising of 12 members was convened to review the applications.
Applications were considered against endorsed policies and guidelines, along with specialist advice from relevant City officers.
View the entire list of successful grant applicants.
The First Nations Cultural Heritage Grant was not offered in this round, as it is currently under review in consultation with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
