Applications Open for Environmental Education Grants

Mr Mark Coure is calling on peak environmental groups to apply for a grant to support their work with communities to conserve the environment.

A total of $1.8 million in funding is available under the 2016 Lead Environmental Community Groups (LECG) Grants Program, which are now open.

Mr Coure said the program offers grants to support new or existing education or capacity building activities that develop the community’s knowledge and participation in protecting the environment.

“The grants will deliver long-term funding to eligible groups over a three year period - 2016, 2017 and 2018 - reducing the need for applicants to apply each year.

“The investment aims to use the community reach of peak environmental groups to develop and widen community environmental skills and knowledge, to help deliver activities that improve the environment in the St George area”, Mr Coure said.

The program offers grants under two funding streams for organisations to consider;

Stream 1 for larger non-government organisations seeking funding between $20,000 and $80,000 each year (maximum of $240,000 in total over the 3 year funding period

Stream 2 for smaller groups seeking less than $20,000 each year (max $60,000 in total over 3 years).

To be eligible for the grants, applicants must be a non-government, not-for-profit organisation, with a full-time presence in NSW and have the protection and enhancement of the environment as one of their primary objectives.

These organisations are usually either the peak community representative of a specific field of environmental activity across NSW or an umbrella organisation providing the full spectrum of activities expected of a peak environment organisation within NSW.

Further information and applications forms are available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/Lead.htm

Applications close on Friday 11 March 2016.