Deadline: 10-Feb-25
The Small Town Festive Decorations Grants program provides grants for small towns and localities in Greater Shepparton to enable local community organisations to purchase and install festive decorations such as lighting, Christmas trees, feature decorations signage and banners in outdoor locations.
This grant enables local community organisations to purchase and install festive decorations such as lighting, Christmas trees, feature decorations, signage and banners.
The funding is available to a population centre in Greater Shepparton with less than 10,000 people. This includes the following small towns; however other localities may also apply: Arcadia, Bunbartha, Congupna, Dookie, Katandra West, Kialla Central, Kialla West, Merrigum, Mooroopna, Murchison, Tallygaroopna, Tatura, Toolamba and Undera.
The objective of the Small Town Festive Decoration funding program is to provide small towns and localities the opportunity to decorate their main street and/or public space to celebrate the festive season.
Funding Information
- A limit of $3,000 applies to each grant from each area.
Eligible Projects
- Purchase and installation of outdoor festive decorations: This includes lighting, Christmas trees, feature decorations, signage, and banners. They also encourage decorations that provide sensory experiences, such as interactive lights or displays that engage multiple senses.
- Example: Installing a large Christmas tree in the town square, or sensory light displays that react to touch or sound.
- Decorations placed in public, high-visibility locations: These should be in areas such as main streets or well-known landmarks within the community.
- Example: Stringing high quality festive lights along the main street or placing a holiday sculpture at a town entrance.
- Eco-friendly and reusable decorations: Priority will be given to decorations that can be reused over several years and that have a minimal environmental impact.
- Example: Purchasing solar-powered lights or reusable banners made from sustainable materials.
- Costs associated with installation and removal: Funding also covers the expenses of setting up and taking down decorations.
- Example: Hiring a contractor to safely install large holiday displays and then remove them after the season.
Eligible Activities
- Funded activities will:
- Occur in Greater Shepparton between the timeframes stated above.
- Provide an inclusive, safe and accessible outcome for the community of Greater Shepparton.
- Demonstrate effective partnerships i.e. with other groups and/or across interest groups.
- Deliver value for money.
- Be well developed, and have reasonable indicators of success for the outcomes expected.
- Be able to be utilised over multiple years and not have a detrimental impact to the environment.
- Acknowledge Greater Shepparton City Council as sponsors of the project receiving funding.
- Invite relevant Council Officers and/or Councillors to any event, launch, or celebration of the funded project.
Ineligible Activities
- Events and activities not held within the activity timeframes.
- Projects that do not occur in a public place for the broader community to benefit from
- Events and activities held outside the Greater Shepparton municipality.
- Applications received after the closing date.
- Applicants who have previously been funded by Council and have failed to comply with the financial, project monitoring and/or reporting requirements.
- Projects that are clearly a duplication of an existing service.
- Fundraising activities.
- Funding is not available for ongoing expenses or for projects which have already commenced or have been completed.
- Projects and activities that are discriminatory in any way, or contravene any legislation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Groups should be a not-for-profit incorporated body, although not having a certificate of incorporation does not make a group ineligible to apply. In this situation, the group applying for the grant will need to nominate another incorporated not-for-profit Community Group, Organisation or Club in Greater Shepparton willing to manage the grant funds (or “auspice the grant”) on their behalf.
- Applicants are required to provide evidence a current $20 Million Public Liability Insurance policy for this project.
- Funding is only available for festive installations. Events or activities cannot be funded by this program.
- Funding is not available for festive installations where installation contravenes Council policy.
- The purchase of festive items can include the hire of contractors or equipment used to install the purchased items.
Assessment Criteria
- All applications received will go through the following assessment process:
- Eligibility checks against criteria for the funding of this program
- Panel Assessment with broad representation from Council Departments
- The Assessment Panel will consider the following:
- Does the activity meet the objectives and activities of the program
- Does the activity have a broad community benefit
- Is the activity well planned and feasible within the timeframes provided
- Evidence that the activity will be well supported by the community
- Evidence that the activity will be inclusive and accessible for the whole community
- Is there are matching component
- Does the intended activity align with the following strategic documents:
- Greater Shepparton City Councils Plan
- Other Master Plan or other Council Strategy
Application Requirements
- To assist with the approval of your application please provide attachments relevant to support your group’s vision for the festive decorations detailed in your application, including:
- Pictures of materials or products you have sourced
- Maps or plans of where the decorations will be located
- Approval from the relevant land owner
For more information, visit Greater Shepparton City Council.
