Special Emergency Community Grants - Applications

In recognition of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Isaac Region residents and, by extension, the numerous community, cultural and sporting organisations which form the social fabric of the region, Council has elected to re-purpose its 2019-2020 Community Grants program to provide direct financial assistance to these groups.

Council acknowledges many community groups in Isaac Region may experience financial hardship due to present social restrictions preventing events or activities from being held which would normally be a source of revenue to fund to recurrent expenses supporting the operations and membership of these organisations.

It is also recognises that many of these same community organisations may wish to provide support to local households or vulnerable groups impacted by COVID-19, by way of food hampers or goodwill packages providing the essentials of life, but lack sufficient financial means to sustain such efforts.

Council’s Special Emergency Community Grants will provide individual grants of up to $5000 to community organisations in the above scenarios in an effort to ensure these groups have the capacity to weather the impacts of the present pandemic and continue to provide the foundation of strong and supportive communities.

In making application, community groups should consider their present and future financial situation and other support channels which may be available to them, such as deferral of expenses by negotiation, relief from government fees and charges, in addition to corporate grants programs.

Available funding for Special Emergency Community Grants is finite and, in the event, the grants program is oversubscribed Council may not be able to fund all grant applications or fund them to the extent requested.

SPECIAL EMERGENCY GRANT OUTCOMES

• Supporting capacity of local community groups and organisations through direct financial assistance

• Maintain viability of community groups and organisations during public health crisis

• Promote community volunteerism and neighbourhood support

• Strengthen vulnerable persons support in region

• Contribute to maintaining strong Isaac communities: inclusive, connected and engaged

TIMING

The Special Emergency Community Grants round will open on Monday 20 April and applications will be determined by Council on a periodic basis until the funding pool is exhausted.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Not-for-profit community organisations, including those holding a gaming license under the Gaming Machine Act 1991, who meet the following criteria:

• Operate within the Isaac Region local government area; and

• Can demonstrate they are experiencing significant financial hardship or distress, the extent of which may threaten their viability, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting their capacity to deliver functions and undertake fundraising; and/or

• Wish to deliver practical community support to Isaac region households and vulnerable persons impacted by COVID-19 through initiatives which enhance the social cohesion, resilience and wellbeing of local communities, through principles of volunteerism and neighbourhood support.

• Have appropriate insurance and adhere to sound workplace health and safety practices to achieve the above objectives.

WHO CANNOT APPLY?

Applications cannot be made by:

• Unincorporated entities (third party au spicing provisions do not apply), unless excluded from incorporation under legislation and/or regulation.

• Community organisations which are not a legal not-for-profit entity or recognised by the Australian Taxation Office as a not-for-profit type.

• Employees and Councillors of Isaac Regional Council.

• Government agencies or departments of Local, State or Federal Government.

• Commercial businesses.

• Existing IRC Community Grant recipients with outstanding acquittals (until such time as the acquittal is completed).

ELIGIBLE ITEMS

• Financial assistance for ongoing or recurrent operational costs to help sustain the viability of the subject organisation, including:

- Reasonable general operating expenses supported by evidence

- Insurance policies related to the running of the organisation

- Professional association/affiliation fees

- Rent and/or leasing fees in non-Council facilities

- Fuel (for the purposes of organisational activity only)

• Servicing of loan interest payments for a period of up to six months where relief or deferral is not provided by a financial institution.

• Financial assistance to support the preparation of community food hampers or goodwill packages which provide the essentials of life to households and vulnerable persons due to financial hardship and/or quarantine and isolation requirements

• Temporary equipment hire, such as cool rooms, which cannot otherwise be obtained through donation, and materially support the preparation and distribution of food hampers and goodwill packages which provide the essentials of life.

• Emergent community-based initiatives which enhance the social cohesion, resilience and wellbeing of local communities, which Isaac Regional Council is satisfied merits a level of financial assistance.

INELIGIBLE ITEMS

• Salaries/wages, director’s fees or other forms of personal compensation and reimbursement

• Relief from Council-levied fees and charges which are dealt with under separate provisions

• Instances where insurance coverage will provide restitution

• Capital improvements to assets or facilities

• Asset replacement or renewal, inclusive of failure, damage or loss of essential equipment

• Development of privately-owned facilities • Low-value portable technology

• Political projects / events / activities

• Projects / events / activities run solely for commercial profit

• Items included and/or covered by another grant application

• Projects / events / activities run solely for the benefit of existing members

• Travel (excluding fuel for the purposes of organisational activity only)

EXCLUSIONS

Council is continuing its moratorium on charging rents for community leases to not-for-profits community groups under stress for FY2020/21

Council has extended rates concessions to not-for-profit organisations under its existing policies to 100% relief on all charges effective 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020

Separate emergency grants are available for situations that have arisen, due to unforeseen circumstances resulting in; (including, but not limited to) failure, damage or loss of essential equipment or infrastructure.

As such, these expenses should not be included in any Special Emergency Community Grant application.

EVIDENTIARY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are required to provide suitable financial evidence to support their grant submission.

This may include, but is not limited to, copies of current financial statements and confirmation of expenses/obligations, including outstanding invoices. ISAAC.QLD.GOV.AU ISAAC REGIONAL COUNCIL ABN 39 274 142 600

Council reserves the right to request further information or to clarify information provided for the purposes of assessing the suitability of each application.

If successful, the applicant may be required to sign relevant agreements/documentation as required, including but not limited to, a statutory declaration and/or funding agreement.

OTHER CONDITIONS

Successful grant applicants are subject to the Authorisations, Application Compliance, Acknowledgement, Privacy and Payment provisions of Council’s Community Grants Guidelines.

Successful applicants will be required to acquit their Special Emergency Community Grant by way of Statutory Declaration affirming grant funds were spent as provided for by Council's approval.

Council reserves the right to request a full financial acquittal report as per the Community Grants Guidelines at its discretion.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

Complete online via the application portal below or alternatively submit a paper-based application by:

Email: communitygrants@isaac.qld.gov.au

Post: ISAAC REGIONAL COUNCIL, PO Box 97, MORANBAH, QLD, 4744

FURTHER ENQUIRIES

Contact Council’s Community Engagement, Programs and Events team on 1300 ISAACS (1300 47 22 27).