Council grants and club grants
Visitor Economy Grants and Sponsorship Program
The visitor economy within the Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA) plays an important role in the employment of local residents and in generating significant economic output for the region. Accommodation and Food Services is our highest employing industry sector (2,589 full time jobs) with Food and Beverage Manufacturing our 7th highest employing industry sector (832 full time jobs).
Visitor data shows that Monday to Thursday visitation is approximately 60% of the visitor numbers received during weekends. Attracting 10% more midweek visitors will result in 35,000 additional annual visitors to the Cessnock LGA, creating $15 million in additional annual output and 103 new jobs.
The annual Visitor Economy Grants and Sponsorship Program is a targeted program aimed at growing the visitor economy in areas where opportunities exist and maximum benefits are achieved. The program also recognises that at certain times of the year accommodation availability is limited and additional activities during these periods may have a negative benefit to the region by reducing customer satisfaction and driving up costs.
Council will financially support projects and events that increase mid-week visitation, increase visitor length of stay and grow jobs within the Cessnock LGA.
Applications can be made between 1 – 28 February and 1 – 31 August every year via the below online form. Please read the Visitor Economy Grants and Sponsorship Program Guidelines(PDF, 504KB) prior to making your application.
Dollar for Dollar Grant Scheme
Cessnock City Council believes in investing in the community. Each financial year, we make funding available under our Dollar for Dollar Grant Scheme to support community, cultural, sporting and environmental projects.
We currently offer four Dollar for Dollar Grant Schemes:
Sporting facilities
Grants are offered to local sporting and community groups for projects that aim to improve or refurbish Council owned sporting facilities or purchase of equipment for the long term benefit of the club and Council.
Community facilities
Grants are offered to complete minor capital works and purchase equipment for Council’s community assets in order to improve the utilisation of the facilities by user groups and the general public. The target facilities are Council community halls and buildings.
Community and cultural development
Grants are offered to not-for-profit community, arts and cultural groups to:
- undertake projects, activities and events that increase opportunities for community participation and improve community well-being
- undertake projects, activities, events and projects that can demonstrate a benefit to the cultural or artistic development of the wider community
- undertake improvements to Council owned facilities licenced to, occupied or leased by the group which will contribute to the cultural or artistic use of the facility.
Sustainable Communities - Tidy Towns
Grants are offered to not-for-profit community environmental groups (such as adopted Section 355 Committees of Council, Landcare, etc.) to undertake projects that make ‘on the ground’ improvements to the local environment, encourage community pride and promote a positive community image.
The Dollar for Dollar grants for this category usually open in January. Please look out for media announcements and this webpage to confirm when this round is open or sign up to the Environment and Waste monthly newsletter.
How to apply
All Dollar for Dollar Grant Schemes have closed for 2022/23. New funding will be available in the next financial year.
2021/22 Dollar for Dollar recipients
We are proud to announce that 20 local community based organisations have been successful in the 2021/22 round of the Community Dollar for Dollar Grant Scheme, with over $40,000 distributed to support community, cultural, sporting and environmental projects.
Successful recipients Dollar for Dollar Grant Scheme 2021/22
Community and Cultural Development
Lions Club of Branxton Inc - Branxton Greta Be Connected. Purchase IT equipment, androids, laptops, iPads. $2,937.50
Cessnock Bellbird Uniting Church - Community Free Food. Kitchen equipment/appliances. $1,575.00
Wine Country Music Association - Equipment Upgrade for improved Stage Safety Management. Microphones and stage box. $485.45
Early Links Inclusion Support Service - Lego Club: Building Blocks for Success. Therapist, equipment, storage, Lego blocks/kits. $2,863.00
Richmond Vale Railway Museum - Purchase of automatic external defibrillator. $954.50
Samaritans Foundation Community Cultural Wall Mural. Artist/facilitator fees and materials. $800.00
Cessnock Seniors Citizens Association - Cessnock Senior Citizens Association Open Days. Entertainment, catering, promotion. $700.00
Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc - Sculpture in the Vineyards Wollombi Sculpture Festival. Website, social media, promotion, catalogue. $3,000.00
Community Facilities (Round 1)
Abermain Plaza Hall Section 355 Committee - Replacement of stage curtains. $4,236.00
Branxton Community Hall Section 355 - Kitchen renovations and stainless steel appliances. $6,501.00
Kurri Kurri Retired Mineworkers - Installation of security doors and replacement of hinged doors $2,645.00
Wollombi Community Hall Section 355 Committee - Purchase of defibrillator. $1,159.00
Wollombi Valley Progress Association - Bushfire ground maintenance at Laguna Community Hall and purchase of BBQ. $504.00
Sporting Facilities (Round 1)
Bellbird Cricket Club - Install fans, LED's, seating and tables; Repair and replace scoreboards. $2,997.00
Branxton Croquet Club - Purchase commercial reel mower. $1,982.00
Cessnock District Netball Association - Purchase 2 court sweepers. $1,290.00
Cessnock Dog Club - Purchase of dog agility equipment. $1,182.00
Kurri Weston Cricket Club - Installation of additional turf wicket. $3,102.00
Wollombi Pony Club - Purchase of sporting equipment. $913.00
Wollombi Valley Tennis & Sports Association - Repairs and roof replacement to picnic shelter and purchase of an island bench for the kitchen. $2,828.00
Reporting
Successful applicants are required to complete a Dollar for Dollar Grant Scheme Acquittal Form on completion of their project. Funds will not be awarded to applicants who have outstanding acquittals for any previously awarded Council grants.
Need more information?
If you would like to find out more about our grants scheme, please call us and ask to speak to the following Council officers:
Sporting facilities or community facilities - Recreation and Community Liaison Officer
Community and cultural development - Community and Cultural Development Officer
Tidy Towns - Sustainability Officer
ClubGRANTS
Council will no longer be the convenor of the Cessnock LGA ClubGRANTS Committee
Clubs that participated in 2022 grant round were:
Successful applicants from 2022 are required to submit an acquittal report to the funding club by filling out a Standard Funding Report Form. This can be found on the ClubGRANTS FAQ page. The completed form must be sent to the club who funded the project.
Need more information?
If you require more information about ClubGRANTS, please visit their website.