Philmac Project awards 16 grants for 2014

The Philmac Project has announced the winners of its 2014 cash grants program. Established by fitting and valve manufacturer Philmac, the project each year provides cash grants of up to $5000 to schools and community organisations in rural and regional Australia.

The scheme received a record number of over 100 applications last year from organisations submitting ideas to save water and improve water quality in their local communities. A judging panel selected 12 recipients from short lists determined by public voting, looking for projects that would make a genuine difference to their local community through reducing water use, improving water quality or benefiting the environment in some way.

The judges also awarded four special grants as part of the new Bluey Award, open to any applicant. The aim of the award was to broaden opportunities for groups that might be considered ‘underdogs’ compared with applicants from organisations that could draw on more supporters in the voting round.

Philmac Managing Director Mark Nykiel said he was impressed by the number, quality and scope of the applications, particularly from smaller and more isolated rural communities. He said the project is helping to bring to life small-scale projects which will make a big difference to the communities and the environment.

“The latest round of grants will enable more people to learn how to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, create greener spaces for children to play in and safer playing surfaces for local sporting clubs, and provide clean drinking water for people and livestock,” Nykiel said.

“These projects will help communities capture rainwater, reduce water use and maximise water efficiency, and they will also save many hours of labour for over-stretched volunteers.”

For a list of the successful projects, visit http://www.philmac.com.au/Pages/News/2014-Philmac-Project-Winners.