Philmac Project opens 2014 grant applications

Regional funding scheme The Philmac Project, established by fitting and valve manufacturer Philmac, has opened up a new round of cash grants for nationwide community groups with water on their minds.

The Philmac Project provides individual grants to local organisations wanting to carry out water-related projects that benefit rural and regional communities. A total of $30,000 in cash grants and $5000 worth of product is being offered, with organisations able to apply for up to $5000 in cash.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult for community groups to source money for smaller, local projects, and that is who we aim to help,” said Philmac Managing Director Mark Nykiel.

“Often all they need is a modest amount of funding to get a start, and they don’t want to have to go through a complex process to get a bit of assistance. With this program, the application steps are simple and there is very limited paperwork involved if you receive a grant.

“So if a school or kindergarten, a show society or sports and recreation club, or a landcare or environmental group in your area has a project in mind that involves managing or saving water, then we want to hear from them.”

Philmac Managing Director Mark Nykiel.

To qualify for a grant, a project must be located in a regional area and the work has to be completed within 12 months of the proposed start date. Nykiel said the funding will be “allocated to projects that make a genuine difference to their local rural community, and have the potential to reduce water use, improve water quality or benefit the environment in some way”.

Submissions can be made at www.philmacproject.com.au, using a simple application form that asks a few basic questions about the intended project. The submissions will then be posted on the website so that people can show support for the projects by voting online. The five projects in each region that attract the most votes will be short-listed for final judging by an expert panel.

Applicants have until 12 December to lodge submissions; however, the sooner the application is made the more time they have to generate votes. Recipients will be announced in February 2015.