Small Towns Festive Decorations Grants

• Groups should be a not-for-profit incorporated body, although not having a certificate of incorporation does not make a group ineligible to apply. In this situation, the group applying for the grant will need to nominate another incorporated not-for-profit Community Group, Organisation or Club in Greater Shepparton willing to manage the grant funds (or “auspice the grant”) on their behalf. If you are considering making an application as an unincorporated body, please contact Council prior to making your application.
• Applicants are required to provide evidence a current $20 Million Public Liability Insurance policy for this project.
• Funding is only available for festive installations. Events or activities cannot be funded by this program. Please see Council’s Festive Events Grants for funding for Festive Events.
• Funding is not available for festive installations where installation contravenes Council policy.
• The purchase of festive items can include the hire of contractors or equipment used to install the purchased items.

• Decorations that will be installed inside a community building.
• Installation at privately owned buildings / locations.
• Signage or promotional materials for a specific event.
• Retrospective funding e.g. projects that have already started or have been completed
• Individuals
• Groups and or organisations that operate for profit
• Fundraising activities
• Groups which are not incorporated
• Politically based organisations or those who operate principally as a lobby group
• Applicants who have previously been funded by Council and have failed to comply with the financial, project monitoring and/or reporting requirements.
• Prize money and awards.
• Groups that receive direct income from electronic gaming machines and/or alcohol sponsorship.

The budget should include details on all income (all sources of funding which will be used to deliver the project) and expenditure (all costs involved in delivering the project). Income and expenditure must be equal. Please provide a copy of quotes with your application.

Providing an in-kind contribution is not compulsory but would be viewed favourably by Council.

In-kind income means any goods and /or services contributed to the project that you would normally pay for, but are being received at no cost to the project.

If you have volunteers working on the project, include their in-kind contribution values at:

• $25 per hour for unskilled labour
• $40 per hour for qualified tradespersons
• $65 per hour for machinery hire including driver

In some cases, approvals and permits may be required to carry out the proposed project. Applicants should discuss their project with the responsible organisation e.g. Council or Victorian Government Department (i.e Vic Roads or Parks Victoria) prior to submitting their application. Your offer of funding will be made conditional to you obtaining regulatory approvals.

To assist with the approval of your application please provide attachments relevant to support your group’s vision for the festive decorations detailed in your application, including:

• Pictures of materials or products you have sourced.
• Maps or plans of where the decorations will be located
• Approval from the relevant land owner

Your application will be assessed by a panel of Council Officers with representation from across the organisation. In its assessment, the Panel will consider how the application meets/responds to the following:

• the objectives of the grant program
• the objectives of the Council Plan
• creates an increase in community involvement and participation
• addresses community safety and risk issues
• provides a clear identified project scope and outcomes
• has a clearly defined implementation plan.

Applications will be scored against the funding criteria and applications ranked in order of the score. The panel’s recommendation will be presented to Council’s Director Community who will consider the recommended funding allocations and provide approval.

You will be required to report to Council upon completion of your project. Your acquittal should include:

• A summary of the project including feedback on what went well and what you learnt from the project.
• A Financial Statement supported by copies of invoices or receipt.
• Copies of promotional material, any photographs of installations for the purpose of promoting the grant through Council publications and website.

The acquittal process is important because it enables Council to continuously evaluate the success of the grant program.

All projects need to be completed and acquitted by 31 January 2025.