It’s time to bring your idea for your local community to life, with applications for My Community Project (MCP) now open.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP urged people across the Cootamundra electorate to get their applications in to enable the region to decide on the best projects to enhance their area.
“My Community Project gives you the chance to develop your great idea to revitalise or renew your community, whether that be through a community garden, a cultural fair, or a safe and inclusive playground,” Ms Cooke said.
“Through this program, locals can think about what their area needs and develop that idea with a project sponsor.
“Once we have the eligible project applications for each area, we will invite the community to get behind them by casting a vote online for the projects they like the most.
“This funding program is the first of its kind. It’s taking the power out of the hands of politicians and letting the people decide.”
Funding of $24.4 million will be evenly split across NSW electorates and made available for projects valued between $20,000 and $200,000 that will make communities more liveable, cultural, accessible, safe, revitalised or healthy.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the pilot program was established by the NSW Government as part of the 2018 Budget and is made possible by the NSW Generations Fund.
“The NSW Generations Fund is a sovereign fund that will be used to pay down debt, while also sharing the benefit of its returns with the people of NSW by providing funding to communities via local, citizen-led projects,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Thanks to the NSW Government’s strong financial management, we have the funds available to deliver projects that will make a real difference for communities across NSW.”
If you have a bright idea, now is the time to get started:
Step 1. Contact a sponsor to see if they’ll support your project – it could be your council, school or a charity
Step 2. Complete Part One of the application form online and click ‘submit’ to send to your sponsor (remember to allow enough time for your sponsor to complete it)
Step 3. Have your sponsor complete Part Two of the application and submit the final version before 2.00pm on Wednesday 15 May 2019.
Applicants and sponsors will be notified if their project progresses to the public vote.
To read the My Community Project guidelines, view a fact sheet or lodge an application, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/mycommunityproject
