Cash will help
Mt Arthur Coal General Manager Adam Lancey, Singleton Council Director Organisation and Community Capacity Vicki Brereton and Mayor Sue Moore.
Community groups and businesses in Singleton are invited to apply for a share of $300,000 under a grants program by Singleton Council following a successful application to BHP’s Vital Resources Fund.
The Community Relief and Rebuild Fund and Business Relief and Rebuild Fund are initiatives under Council’s $1.8 million Community Support Package, which already includes $500,000 for community and economic programs to help the community deal with the impacts of COVID-19 now, and build resilience into the future.
Thanks to the $200,000 injection by BHP on top of $100,000 already committed by Council, eligible community groups will be invited to apply for a share of $200,000 and businesses to apply for a share of $100,000 in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to help assist and rebuild the local community and economy.
The local grants program is one of nine projects BHP has supported in the Upper Hunter to date under its Vital Resources Fund.
Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore said it was a great way for Council and industry to work together to make sure the community not only recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, but has the capacity to thrive into the future.
“The Community Relief and Rebuild Fund for community groups will provide $200,000 for organisations that provide assistance to vulnerable members of our community as well as community-based organisations, social and sporting groups to cope with increased demand for services and deliver activities to help reconnect our community,” she said.
“Similarly, the Business Relief and Rebuild Fund will provide $100,000 for businesses across our local government area that weren’t eligible for government assistance to carry out essential projects to help them to recover and grow stronger, which in turn makes our local economy stronger.
Eligibility criteria and the application process is now on the council’s website.
Mt Arthur Coal General Manager Adam Lancey acknowledged the important role local community groups and businesses play in building vibrant and resilient communities, and was proud that BHP could financially support eligible groups through Singleton Council’s Community Relief and Rebuild Fund and the Business Relief and Rebuild Fund.
“Local community groups and business are the backbone of regional communities and supporting them to recover from a crisis is the right thing to do. That’s why BHP’s Vital Resources Fund was established, to support regional Australian communities facing significant challenges as a result of COVID-19,” Mr Lancey said.
*This story was published on Friday, June 19 2020.