1000 registrations and counting as region’s grant finder builds future financial investment.
More than 1000 Greater Whitsunday businesses and community groups have registered for the Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder in the past 18 months.
The Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder is a partnership between, Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday Regional Councils and Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) to empower our regional business and community members with greater access to funding opportunities.
Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder is powered by Grant Guru a grant-finding software company and helps business and community groups to search for government and non-government grant opportunities in one place.
Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) Chief Executive Officer Ms Kylie Porter said GW3 has been delivering the Grant and Funding program funded by the Local Buying Foundation since August 2021.
Ms Porter said in that short time has strengthened the region’s capabilities to successfully access grants and funding.
“In two short years, the Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder has grown its membership from just over 200 to more than 1000 active registered users. These users are now accessing grant and funding information on a regular basis.
“The more successful Greater Whitsunday businesses and community groups are in accessing grants, the greater the economic and social outcomes for our region.
“As Greater Whitsunday businesses and community groups, expand their grants and funding knowledge, our region is also building more financial investments now and into the future.”
Ms Porter said one of the biggest barriers for the region was business and community not knowing where and how to access grants relevant to them and their funding needs.
A recent survey of registered Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder local businesses showed:
•85% registered to receive direct grant alerts weekly relevant to their business needs.
•78% have found potential grants suitable to their business needs.
•55% have successfully applied for funding within the past 2 years.
Bowen Gumlu Growers Association General Manager Mr Ry Collins said the Greater Whitsunday Grant Finder made finding grants easier to find.
“We no longer have to keep track of every government announcement and the service provides regular updates and on key opportunities to support our business and strategic objectives,” Mr Collins said.
Mind Australia Service Manager Ms Gayle Clifford said being sent grants that are applicable to the areas of the interest and relevance of the organisation has been great to apply for grant funds that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.
“We applied and were successful for a grant with the Queensland Mental Health Commission and this has enabled us to hold our fourth annual art exhibition, on a much greater scale,’ she said.
Ms Porter said along with making grants easier to find, the Grants and Funding Service regularly facilitates training workshops on how to use the system.
“The grant and tender writing workshops have resulted in a significant increase in investment to the region.
“To support this growth, the GW3 has trained nine registered grant and tender service businesses who have formed a practitioner network and are collaborating to meet the needs of business and community throughout the region to have the best chance of success,” Ms Porter said.
For more information visit: www.grantguru.com/au/greaterwhitsunday or www.greaterwhitsundayalliance.com.au/grants-and-funding-service
Greater Whitsunday Alliance is the region’s peak, independent economic development body committed to making the Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday region strong for generations.