Applications open for Yallourn Community Grants program

EnergyAustralia, the operator of the Yallourn power station and mine, has launched a $40,000 program to support community projects and initiatives in the Latrobe Valley.

Under the EnergyAustralia Yallourn Community Grants program, EnergyAustralia will make $10,000 available per quarter, across 2016.

EnergyAustralia's Head of Yallourn, Mark Pearson, said EnergyAustralia and the team at the Yallourn power station recognise the importance of supporting our neighbouring communities.

"We live and work in the Latrobe Valley and it makes us proud to have contributed around $400,000 in the past five years to a range of projects such as musical, sporting and computer equipment for the Baringa Special School, supported Latrobe Catchment Landcare to improve shelter for local wildlife and supported the local economy such as sponsoring Moe's inline hockey tournament, all of which contribute positively in the community," Mr Pearson said.

"We've found there is no shortage of great ideas and worthy projects. The EnergyAustralia Yallourn Community Grants program is about giving people the chance to bring some of those initiatives to life," he said.

Grants are awarded based on a project's potential to benefit the Latrobe Valley in three key areas: community development; the environment, and; supporting the local economy.

• Community development: Support for initiatives that address key local community issues such as youth support, health, education and social cohesion.

• Benefiting the environment: Support for programs that aim to revitalise the local environment such as projects that support biodiversity or community based conservation and rehabilitation programs.

• Supporting the local economy: Support for programs that aim to build the local value chain such sustainable training, employment programs and local economic growth.

Also, EnergyAustralia is looking for a member of the community to join a panel which will assess applications and decide how grants are allocated. Applications to become a panel member are open now and close Friday 12 February.

"We're very pleased at the strong interest Latrobe Valley residents have shown towards the grants program and participating in how they're awarded," Mr Pearson said.

Applications for the EnergyAustralia Yallourn Community Grant close at 5pm on Friday 26 February with recipients announced in March.

For more information on the grant or community representative role, please contact Meredith Bowden on (03) 5128 2960.