TRC makes changes to $50k grant program

THE Toowoomba Regional Council has made temporary changes to its $50,000 economic development grant program to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 downturn.

Councillors voted at Wednesday’s committee meeting to approve the changes to the community economic development grant program guidelines.

TRC economic development officer Shamus Garmany wrote in his report to councillors that the alterations, which would remain in place for 12 months, would ensure any funding was going towards the economic recovery effort.

“The proposed temporary 12-month amendment to the community economic development grant program guidelines would require projects to deliver tangible support directly to businesses that assists them to meet economic challenges during the pandemic recovery period,” he wrote.

“The proposed temporary amendments are primarily related to the program objectives and outcomes and project eligibility.

No changes are proposed to the funding amount or applicant eligibility, which will remain open to not-for-profit community organisations.”

Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan asked about whether the takeup rate for the program would be affected by the changes.

In response, Mr Garmany said any slowness in take-up could be mixture of community awareness in the program and the capacity of the applicants to complete the project before it could apply for the next round of funding.

Mr Garmany said twothirds of successful applicants had come from areas outside of Toowoomba.

For more information about the council’s grant programs, call 131 872.