The first of thousands of grants have been awarded under a Victorian Government program to help local sports clubs and leagues ride out the coronavirus pandemic and come back ready to play.
Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence, yesterday announced 528 grants of $1,000 each have been approved for payment to clubs in the first tranche of support under the $40 million Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package which was launched last week.
“Local sport makes people happy and healthy and that’s why we are getting behind the state’s 12,000 Clubs and Associations,” said Minister Spence.
“This is practical support that will help the players and coaches, the volunteers and supporters – all the people who make local sport such a vital part of the community.”
From football, cricket, netball and soccer to cycling, little athletics, bowling and baseball, a multitude of pursuits are represented. Moyhu Pony Club, Cudgewa Football Netball Club, Alexandra and District Speedway Inc. and Brim Kellalac Sheep Hills Cricket Club are among the organisations that have been sent confirmation letters.
The grants will make it that little bit easier for clubs as Victorians start to train again and head back to courts and fields across the state.
Local Clubs, Leagues and Associations have been hit hard by the coronavirus shutdown and these grants are a key part of the Government’s support for community sport and active recreation.
More than three million Victorians are involved in community sport and recreation, with 12,000 clubs and associations operating across the state.
The Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package has four categories:
• Up to $350,000 for large state sporting associations
• Up to $200,000 for smaller state sporting associations, regional sports assemblies and academies, and other state sport and recreational bodies
• Up to $15,000 for associations and leagues
• Up to $1,000 for individual clubs
Applications will be accepted until 15 June 2020, or until the funding allocation is exhausted. For further information and directions on how to apply, visit sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding.
The Government is also getting on with shovel-ready community sport and recreation infrastructure projects across the state, investing $68 million to deliver important facilities and grow jobs and as part of the new $2.7 billion Building Works package.
