HORSHAM Rural City Council will allocate $365,539 to its 2018/19 Community Grants program.
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At council’s meeting on Monday night, a list of successful grant applicants for the 2018/19 financial year was released.
The 2018/19 allocation total of $365,539 is an increase of two per cent from the 2017/18 total of $357,991.
Horsham Sharks Swimming Club, Taylors Lake Football Netball Club and Natimuk Road Kindergarten will each receive $10,000 of funding for facility upgrades, the most of any applicants.
Council also allocated $6500 to the Art Is Festival for event support, $7820 to the Rotary Club of Horsham East to support the Wimmera Science and Engineering Challenge, and $8000 to Horsham Football Netball Club to replace flooring.
In her report to council, grants officer Susan Surridge said all applicants were considered by an interdepartmental working group.
“At all levels of the assessment process, those on assessment panels and at briefings were requested to declare any conflict of interest and to not discuss or vote on any particular applications where there may be a real or perceived conflict of interest,” she said.
Councillors unanimously agreed that spending money on community grants was money well spent.
“Community grants are one of the best parts of our budget,” Cr David Grimble said.
“This has gone through a high level of scrutiny and I’m more than happy to support those groups listed.
“It gives recipients the chance to go ahead with projects knowing they have that crucial funding secured.”
Cr Alethea Gulvin agreed and said more groups should apply.
“It would be great to get more people to aware of the grant program and how it can benefit their club or group,” she said.