Groups and businesses on the Central Coast looking to rebuild and rejuvenate following the devastating bushfires of late 2019-early 2020 have until October 6 to apply for a Black Summer Bushfire Recovery (BSBR) grant. [ed. note extended date]
Funding of approximately $276M is open to councils, businesses and many other groups for bushfire recovery and resilience support and will be distributed over three years for eligible projects which seek to address community recovery and resilience.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, has reminded eligible locals to apply for the grant before applications close.
“This is an opportunity to get our community back on its feet especially in Mangrove Mountain and Somersby,” Tesch said.
“While time has passed the impact of the fires continues with hundreds of Coasties scarred by the fires that travelled throughout their community.”
While media attention was quickly overtaken by COVID-19 in March last year, Tesch said many communities were still struggling to rebuild.
“I remember visiting the fire affected areas during the height of the fires and seeing the devastation, fear and closed businesses as they waited for the fire to either pass or take hold,” she said.
“Thankfully our firies were able to protect the majority of property here on the Central Coast but there were many who still suffered greatly from the fires.
“If you have been impacted I encourage you to reach out for these grants and try to restore what was lost following these fires.”
Funding available can be anything from $20,000 to $10M, with the projects needing to be completed by March 31, 2024.
To be eligible you must have an Australian business number and be in one of the listed categories.
Your project must also be consistent with the grant objectives and guidelines and there must be at least $20,000 in eligible expenditure.
The grants will close at 5pm on October 6, 2021.
For details on eligibility go to https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/black-summer-bushfire-recovery-grant.
Terry Collins
Verified source: Media statement National Recovery and Resilience Agency, August 30, 2021