The funding is from the second round of the NSW government’s Stronger Community Grants Program and spawned a total of 19 projects from the MidCoast region. 

MidCoast Council’s community spaces and services director Paul De Szell said the a terrific response was received from community groups.

“The panel appointed to work through the applications had an extremely tough job in awarding the funding, with so many and varied projects that demonstrated strong benefits to our community,” he said.

“The standard of the applications we received was very high, and while not every project could be funded, we will continue to encourage and support the efforts of our highly valued and active community groups who make such a difference to the services and facilities in our region.”

To be eligible for funding, applicants were required to demonstrate their project delivered social, cultural, economic or environmental benefits to the local community.

The projects also needed to address an identified need, a broad community reach, and that any ongoing costs were able to be met without additional funding into the future. 

The assessment panel was made up of council administrator John Turner, local state members or their delegates, a representative from the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and an independent probity adviser.

Over the course of the two year grants program, the Stronger Communities Funding has delivered $1 million in NSW Government funds to 36 community projects across the entire MidCoast region.

Projects awarded funding in this second round of the program must be completed in the next 12 months.