General News
5 September, 2024
Rainbow reaps grant rewards
Rainbow's community will be reaping the bulk of the benefits after Hindmarsh Shire Council announced its allocation of funds to local organisations and businesses through round one of its Community Action Grants, Regional Community Events Grants and Business Assistance Grants programs.
Community Action Grants
This program supports community groups and organisations to provide services and to assist with community development, social action and connectedness.
The 2024-25 budget allocated $20,000 in funds categorised into three areas: event sponsorship of up to $500, small equipment grants of up to $1000 and community assistance grants of up to $1000.
Rainbow Archive & Historical Society will receive $1000 towards the purchase of a $1140 Ricoh ScanSnap SV600 scanner which will be used to scan and digitise newspapers and historical documents to ensure their preservation.
Jeparit Agricultural and Pastoral Society Inc will receive funding of $500 towards a $10,172.50 project aiming to ensure the show remains inclusive and affordable for all community members by making activities and entertainment free to the community.
The Oasis Rainbow will receive funding of $500 towards a movie night screening of The Blues Brothers.
Rainbow Learning Group and Neighborhood House Inc will receive $505.86 to assist with updating and printing 1200 Rainbow Mural brochures to serve as a guide to the location of the town’s many murals, information about the artists, and historical information about Rainbow and its sights.
Rainbow Progress Association Inc will receive $1000 to assist with the Rainbow 2050 Project which aims to engage the Rainbow Community in a series of activities aimed at understanding and shaping the future of the town over the coming decades.
The other successful applicants were The Nhill Stationeers ($500 for landscaping), Nhill CWA Twilight Branch ($1000 for fence construction), Nhill A&P Society ($997.50 for safety vests) and The Combined Probus Club of Nhill ($1000 for a laptop).
Regional Community Events Grants
This program supports community events that celebrate culture, heritage and community wellbeing, boost the economy and increase visitation to Hindmarsh Shire.
Consideration is guided by the number of attendees expected at an event, with $2000 awarded to tier-one events expecting up to 500 attendees, $4000 awarded to tier-two events expecting up to 1500 attendees, and $7500 awarded to tier-three events expecting more than 1500 attendees.
The 2024-25 budget allocated $19,000 in funds - with $13,500 allocated in this round and the balance used to open a second round of funding in December.
Rainbow Rises Event Association was awarded $4000 ($2000 cash and $2000 in kind) to support the 2025 ARB Rainbow Desert Enduro, subject to conditions being met.
The association originally applied for tier-three funding but was unable to provide the necessary detail and documentation to support the larger funding request.
The other two successful applicants were the Dimboola Progress Association, which will receive $6000 cash and $1500 in kind for the 2025 Steampunk event, and Piggery Lane Players, which will receive $1500 cash and $500 in kind for its 2024 stage production.
Business Assistance Grants
This program aims to help offset costs associated with expanding or establishing a business in Hindmarsh Shire to ensure the ongoing sustainability and viability of the local economy.
The 2024-25 budget allocated $20,000 in funds, categorised into two areas: business development grants of up to $2000, and streetscape grants of up to $3000.
Businesses must match $1 to every $2 granted by the program.
Hayden’s Cafe will receive $3000 to upgrade the front facia of the main-street location and to install an outdoor dining area.
Rainbow Sweets will receive $1400 for new eye-catching store signage and an a-frame sign to let people know when they are open.
Turbo Gallery will receive $3000 for the establishment of a sculpture garden.
Other recipients of the Business Assistance Grants were Big Bertha Coffee Van ($1998 for refrigerators), Cat Clarke Catering ($2000 to outfit a new kitchen and dining area), Partners in Ag ($1679 for conference attendance costs), K’nyaw Asian Grocery Store ($631.40 for a business sign), Lots of Laughter Coffee Van ($599.35 for a gazebo), Lowana ($2170 for facia signage) and Nhill Thai Massage ($1346 for signage).
Councillors who attended the August meeting all said they hoped more businesses and community groups would take advantage of the opportunities presented with these grants, and assistance was available to those seeking to apply for a grant.