Douglas sporting bodies will have the opportunity to seek financial assistance to run local sports events through a Federal Government initiative.

Now open for applications the regional sports fund will support community sporting events with an aim of kick-starting local economies and encouraging visitors back after the impacts of the pandemic.

For example, Douglas sporting clubs can apply for funding assistance to run
“come and try days”, bigger events like sports exhibitions or state level competitions that engage the broader community.

More than 400 eligible LGAs across Australia, including Port Douglas can apply for funding of up to $50,000.

“Sport is often the glue that brings rural and regional communities together and this program aims to fast-track the recovery from what’s been a very challenging period for these parts of Australia,” Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said.

“Local sporting clubs and associations play an incredibly important role in regional Australia and through this fund, the Australian Government is encouraging communities to come together and celebrate through sport.

“Staging these events in regional and remote communities will also benefit the small businesses that are central to local economies across the country.”

Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton said the resumption of these types of events will have wide-ranging benefits for regional and remote communities.

“Like so many sectors of our economy, community sport has been hit hard by the pandemic and this fund will support many of the events that were cancelled or postponed to resume,” Mr Dalton said.

“This program encourages LGAs to be creative in how they re-engage with their communities through sport and will have substantial flow on effects throughout the rest of the community.”

Port Douglas junior Crocs is one club keen to capitalise on the new grant offering.

“A grant like this has so many benefits for clubs like ours and many others around the community,” Crocs junior president Craig Mitchell told Newsport.

“Our focus is always around participation and inclusiveness, so, if successful, we’d look to use such a grant to create awareness around the sport and as usual increase our junior numbers.”

Applications for the regional sport events fund are now open and close on April 8.

For more information visit https://www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding/regional-sport-events-fund.