Aura Community Grants Program set to deliver funding windfall for local groups
The much-anticipated second round of the Aura Community Grants Program is launching with an even larger pool of funding available for local organisations in need of a helping hand.
More than $300,000 will be up for grabs when applications open from Friday, 1 February, with not for profit groups and community organisations delivering services in Caloundra North, Caloundra South and the Glasshouse Country areas invited to apply.
The funding can be used for either a one-off project or to deliver an ongoing project or services, with 15 groups being awarded more than $285,000 in the inaugural program in 2017.
Josh Sondergeld, Project Director for Stockland, said the Aura Community Grants Program was a collaboration between the Sunshine Coast Council, the Queensland State Government and Stockland and was delivered in partnership with Good2Give.
“The first round of the community grants program in 2017 received an outstanding response with a wide range of extremely worthy local organisations benefitting from some much-needed funds,” Mr Sondergeld said.
“We’re proud to support the many local groups and associations who work tirelessly to make our community a better place and it’s exciting to be able to not only offer more funding in this next round, but also bring it forward by almost six months due to how quickly the community is growing.”
The program will see approximately $5 million of funding delivered to local organisations throughout the duration of the construction of the Aura community.
Applications in round two are open for six weeks, from 1 February to 22 March, and two types of grants are available – $1,000 to $5,000, and $5,001 to $50,000.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate how their program or service delivers outcomes for the local community, including increasing health and happiness, supporting the environment, developing local skills and talent, and fostering a sense of local community.
The Aura Community Grants program is a commitment outlined in Stockland’s Infrastructure Agreement for Aura. The Infrastructure Agreement is a collaboration between the Sunshine Coast Council, the State Government and Stockland that will see Stockland invest more than $1.3 billion in local infrastructure over the life of the Aura project.
For more information or to apply for a grant, visit the News & Events page at www.cityofcolour.com
Aura has been accredited with a 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating from the Green Building Council of Australia and is recognised as Australia’s most sustainable greenfield masterplanned community.
Aura has also been named as the highest selling masterplanned community in the country and will include more than 20,000 homes on completion, with each village within Aura featuring a range of community and sporting facilities.
Stockland’s Home Sweeter Home Sale is offering $10,000 off all residential lots in Queensland communities as well as a $20,000 deposit reduction on townhomes from 14 January to 3 March. There is also help available with the construction process, with up to $25,000 available in bonuses from a selection of Stockland’s building partners.
For more information on Aura, visit www.cityofcolour.com or drop into the Aura Sales and Information Centre at 1 Lukin Drive, Baringa. You can also stay updated on the community’s progress on Facebook at www.facebook.com/auraqld.