Community Funding Program

Port Stephens Community Support Fund is a temporary grant program specifically designed to assist local not-for-profit community service providers support vulnerable communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To apply complete the following questions.  Please note that applications must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved if closed. View the question in the template which can be found in the Document Library HERE

The Vibrant Spaces funding is focused on building a strong, creative and vibrant cultural economy. Put simply, we want to make great places for everyone to enjoy and experience. Vibrancy means places with life, activity and interesting experiences that tell the story of who we are.   

Vibrant and liveable places support creative expression, social connection, and community pride. Just as importantly, they attract business and investment and create opportunities for new employment enterprise, trade and export.

Creating a vibrant evening economy is a really important factor in great cities and towns.  It helps grow new and existing business, attracts new residents and makes the place a more exiting engaging place to live, work and play.

The evening economy fund will help support local business, artisans and creatives to try new ideas which will contribute to bringing life to our streets between the hours of 4pm and 9pm in our major town centres (Nelson Bay and Raymond Terrace). 

The My Incredible Place Micro Grant Funding program supports short term, low cost projects that encourage community based place activation across Port Stephens. This programs provides the opportunity for artistic and creative ideas that connect our community out in the streets. 

Community events are an important factor in contributing to the Port Stephens cultural identity. They reflect our values, the sense of place and provide a platform for our community to connect and come together. 

This funding program will focus on events that create social outcomes for the Port Stephens community. Applications will be assessed on how they bring people together to celebrate, learn, share experiences and grow new opportunities. 

Events help a community to come alive. They provide the opportunity for a destination to showcase its tourism experience, increase economic growth and create a dynamic and vibrant place and build a loyal following and return visitors.

Events are well recognised as drivers of visitation and visitor spend and provide tourism, trade and investment opportunities for Port Stephens. Events can also be a driver of infrastructure development through increasing demand and provide an opportunity for Council to reinforce its brand, stimulate the economy and smooth seasonal fluctuations.

The Heritage Projects Fund provides small grants to assist with local heritage projects. The Fund encourages owners of heritage items to undertake conservation and maintenance works. The Fund can also provide support to community organisations to undertake projects related to heritage items, such as interpretation or heritage walk brochures. Funding is offered as a priority to heritage items, places within conservation areas, or items of historical significance.

The Fund is supported by Heritage NSW, Department of Premier & Cabinet.

To apply complete the following questions and refer to the Fund Guidelines in the documents library.  Please note that applications must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved if closed. 

Please fill out the survey to complete your grant application. Please note that surveys must be completed in one sitting and cannot be saved if closed. We recommend downloading the question examples guide to ensure you have all relevant information on hand before beginning the online application. 

Please complete your acquittal for the Community Support Fund for 2020/21. Please have any support documentation, including invoices and budget ready for uploading. 

Please submit your acquittal and reporting for the 2019-2020 funding round here. To ensure eligibility for future Council grant funding, acquittals must be spent per terms of your grant agreement with relevant officer.