Local community groups, non-government organisations and Livingstone Shire Council will share in $1.8 million in flexible funding grants to support their ongoing recovery following the devastating 2019 Queensland bushfires.
23 communities from Cook to the Gold Coast will also be eligible to apply for grants.
Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said applications were now open to support community-led recovery and resilience programs in Livingstone Shire.
“Livingstone Shire was heavily impacted by the bushfires last year leaving an emotional toll on individuals, families and the wider Central Queensland community,” Ms Landry said.
“It is vitally important recovery efforts from the bushfires are locally-led and we are happy to be able provide funding to help.
“We’ll continue to work closely with all local community groups; non-government organisations and Livingstone Shire Council to ensure they have the resources and support they need to build their long term resilience to natural disasters.
“These flexible funding grants will assist programs and projects that provide vital assistance to local people who have faced significant hardship and disruptions following the devastating bushfires.
“This can include community events or arts, sporting and cultural projects; commemorative public memorials; workshops and information sessions for future bushfire preparedness,” Ms Landry said.
Small grants of between $2,500 and $50,000 and larger grants of between $50,001 and $100,000 are available.
The first round of the flexible funding grants is open to community groups, local councils and non-government organisations in the local government areas of Brisbane (City), Bundaberg, Gold Coast (City), Cook, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Mareeba, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, and Whitsunday.
Flexible funding grants are being made available under the jointly funded Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) through Category C Community Recovery Funds (CRF).
Grant applications close at 2pm on 3 June 2020.
Successful grant projects will be delivered in line with the latest health advice regarding COVID-19.
More information on the flexible funding grants, including how to submit an application, can be found at https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/industry-partners/funding-grants/funding-available.
For more information about community recovery visit https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/recovery-after-disaster
